Jan. 4, 2012

SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State trails visiting Illinois State, 30-25, at the half here in Missouri Valley Conference play as Bryant Allen leads all scorers with 10 off the bench for the visiting Redbirds.

The Bears made just one of their first eight field goal attempts, and then when Kyle Weems picked up his second personal foul at the 12:37 mark, Illinois State responded with an 8-4 run to make it a 17-8 game midway through the opening period.

Missouri State climbed back within 17-14 on a jumper at the 6:37 mark by Christian Kirk, who has a team-high 9 points at the break. But back-to-back three-pointers by Allen and a free throw by Tyler Brown built ISU's lead to double figures at 24-14 with just under six minutes left.

Kirk and Keith Pickens sparked another MSU rally from there with seven straight points over the next 90 seconds to make it 24-21.

Jon Ekey dropped in ISU's fifth and final trey of the opening half with less than a minute to play to put ISU back on top 30-25 at the break. Kirk's jumper at the 1:54 mark had made it a two-point game and brought the JQH Arena faithful back into the otherwise-sloppy first half.

MSU was 9-for-29 (.310) from the field and 0-of-6 from bonus distance with 7-of-9 (.778) free throws. ISU out-rebounded the Bears 22-20 and made 11-of-31 (.355) field goals, including 5-of-16 (.313) from beyond the arc. The Redbirds were also 3-of-5 (.600) at the charity stripe with 7 turnovers.

Jarmar Gulley and Pickens have 6 points apiece for MSU, which has 6 turnovers.