FINAL STATS
SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State (26-8) had four players in double figures and shot better than 55 percent from the field to secure an 89-76 win over visiting Murray State here Tuesday in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.
Jermaine Mallett led all players with a career-high 23 points, while Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Kyle Weems added 14. The Bears also got 12 points off the bench from freshman Nathan Scheer, including a game-changing three pointer with 5:46 remaining.
After leading 38-31 at the intermission, the Bears extended their advantage to double figures less than two minutes into the second half. Missouri State eventually built a 15-point lead on a put-back by Nafis Ricks with 13:25 on the clock.
Mallett's jumper with 13 minutes to go preserved the Bears' 15-point lead, 60-45, but the Racers soon began making their move. Reserves Ed Daniel and Jewuan Long combined for 15 of Murray State's 20 points over the next seven minutes that included a 14-2 run by the visitors. A free throw by Long with 6:09 on the clock cut the Bears' lead to 68-66.
But, Scheer answered in a big way 23 seconds later with a pivotal three-pointer from the left wing. The Bears then went on a 7-0 run to build their edge to 75-66, ending the threat and pushing the No. 3 seeded Missouri State squad into the second round.
Missouri State was 12-for-12 at the free throw line in the final 5:05 and finished 27-for-33 (.818) at the stripe.
Ivan Aska led Murray State (23-9) with an 8-for-11 shooting effort and 16 points, while Long scored 15, and Isacc Miles added 13. The Racers finished 29-for-54 (.537) from the field and 6-for-15 (.400) from beyond the arc, but were just 12-for-23 (.522) at the free throw line. Murray State shot 55.6 percent from all three scoring areas in the second half.
Will Creekmore added 13 points for Missouri State, while Nafis Ricks added 12 points and 8 assists with no turnovers.
The Bears finished 27-for-49 (.551) from the field and 8-for-18 (.444) from bonus distance as four players hit two treys apiece. The Bears also owned a 32-22 rebounding advantage and committed just nine turnovers.
The win upped the Bears' home record to 16-1 this season and 35-3 over the past two seasons. Coach Cuonzo Martin's squad will await the result of Wednesday's other first-round game between No. 2 seed Miami (Fla.) and No. 7 Florida Atlantic. Missouri State will play the winner of that game with the higher-seeded team hosting.
In the first half, Missouri State erased an early 3-0 deficit and did not trail again the rest of the night. The Bears led 38-31 at the break with Mallett scoring 9 points. His second trey of the opening period opened up a 36-29 lead for the home club with 2:30 to go, and after a dunk by Will Creekmore less than a minute later, the Bears pulled ahead 38-29 for their biggest lead of the opening stanza.
The Racers (23-8) got the final bucket of the half to make it 38-31.
The Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champions outscored Missouri State in the paint, 36-32 and off the bench, 23-19 while committing just eight turnovers.
