Nov. 22, 2014 Final Stats
Final Stats | Season Stats | Great Alaska Shootout
LUBBOCK, Texas - Marcus Marshall scored a game-high 27 points, and Austin Ruder added 19, but Missouri State (2-1) was out-rebounded by a 28-9 margin in the second half to contribute to an 80-68 road loss to Texas Tech (2-1) here Saturday.
Devaughtah Williams scored 18 for the Red Raiders, with Norense Odiase adding 14, and Robert Turner contributing 12 for the home club, which made 28-of-40 (.700) free throws on 27 MSU fouls.
The Bears found their range early in the game and knocked down 11-of-21 (.524) 3-pointers for the game after converting 8-of-12 in the first period to play within 42-38 at the break.
Marshall and Ruder both finished the night 5 of 8 beyond the arc.
It took MSU just over two minutes into the second half to tie the game, 44-44, as Ruder knocked down a long ball in transition. But the Red Raiders answered with a 7-0 run including a traditional 3-point play by Turner to close out the run.
Missouri State responded and drew within 53-49 on a bucket by Kirk with 13:29 to play after Marshall tacked on a jumper and a free throw. But TTU answered with an 11-4 swing with 6 points in that stretch from the line to extend its advantage to double figures for the first time at the 9:40 mark, 64-53.
With around 5 minutes to go, Ruder knocked down his final 3-pointer of the game and scored on a steal and layup in transition 30 seconds later to get the Missouri State deficit down to 70-61. But 10 unanswered points by Texas Tech over the next two-and-a-half minutes put the game out of reach.
The Bears closed out the game on a 7-0 run to make the final margin respectable.
In the first half, Marshall made 5 shots from beyond the arc to lead all players with 17 points before the break. All of Marshall's first-half points came in the first 8 minutes, 13 seconds of the game. The Bears took a 13-12 rebounding edge into the intermission, despite trailing by four with the Red Raiders knocking down 12 of the 16 charity shots they took.
For the game, MSU fired at a 43.1 percent clip (22-for-51) and converted 13-of-19 (.684) at the line with 13 turnovers and 6 steals.
Christian Kirk led all Bears with 6 rebounds, including 3 on the offensive end, while Dorrian Williams pitched in 5 assists.
Texas Tech was 23-for-51 (.451) from the field, 6-of-18 (.333) beyond the arc and also turned the ball over 13 times with 5 steals.
Zach Smith and Odiase finished with 7 boards apiece to lead all players and help send the 5,107 in attendance at the United Supermarkets Arena home happy.
The Bears will now travel to Anchorage, Alaska for the GCI Great Alaska Shootout, Nov. 26-29. Missouri State opens the tournament against Colorado State at 1 a.m. (Central) on Thursday.
