Jan. 18, 2012

SPRINGFIELD -- Thanks to 11 Creighton turnovers in the first half, Missouri State leads the No. 18 Bluejays 34-30 here at the intermission as the Bears look to break a two-game losing streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Kyle Weems, Anthony Downing and Caleb Patterson have 6 points apiece to lead the Bears who shot 34.2 percent (13-for-38) in the first half. MSU was just 3-for-14 (.214) from three-point range, but made all five free throw attempts and out-rebounded Creighton by an 18-17 margin.

Creighton, which is putting a six-game win streak on the line, was 12-for-21 (.571) in the first period and was led by Doug McDermott with 10 points, while Gregory Echenique has 8 points and 4 rebounds. CU is also 2-for-7 (.286) from bonus distance and 4-for-5 (.800) at the line.

The first 20 minutes has seen eight ties and five lead changes, but none more significant than a 5-0 Bears run late in the half that saw MSU move from a 27-25 deficit to a 30-27 lead on a jumper by Michael Bizoukas and a traditional three-point play by Downing with 6:38 to go.

MSU moved ahead by four on a pair of free throws by Weems with 3:38 remaining. Weems closed out the first-half scoring with a left-wing jumper to make it 34-30. Creighton had just two field goals -- by by Echenique -- in the final eight minutes of the half.

Missouri State has just one first-half turnover.