Jan. 15, 2012

SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State has made good on 52-percent of its first half shots and compiled a 21-12 rebounding advantage to build a 42-38 halftime lead over visiting Evansville here in Missouri Valley Conference play.

The Bears are 13-for-25 (.520) from the field and 4-of-6 (.667) from beyond the three-point line in the first stanza. MSU has also made 12-of-16 (.750) from the free throw line and committed 8 turnovers.

Kyle Weems has 10 points to lead the home team, while Caleb Patterson has added 8 off the bench. Keith Pickens and Michael Bizoukas have combined for 9 of the 11 Missouri State assists.

Evansville is 14-of-30 (.467) from the field, 1-for-5 (.200) from bonus distance and 9-of-11 (.818) at the line. Lewis Jones has 14 points off the bench to lead all scorers.

The Purple Aces, who are looking to snap a four-game MVC losing streak, jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Bears got on the board with a Pickens layup just over two minutes in. Three-pointers by Weems and Nathan Scheer over the next two minutes built a 13-7 lead for the Bears who reeled off nine straight points during the run.

Six consecutive points by Patterson over the span of 70 seconds pushed the MSU advantage to 33-23 at the 5:53 mark. Evansville closed out the half with with four free throws and 10 points by jones in the final five-and-a-half minutes.

The Bears are beginning a two-game MVC home stand and sit alone in third place in the Valley headed into today's action.