Jan. 11, 2015 Final Stats
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SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State's 22-point first-half deficit proved too much to overcome here Sunday in a 69-55 home loss to Illinois State (10-6, 2-2 MVC) at JQH Arena.
The Bears (8-8, 2-2) rallied in the second half, holding the Redbirds to just 20 points and 28.6 percent shooting from the field in the final 20 minutes, but Paul Lusk's club couldn't find the offensive rhythm to mount a comeback.
Tyler McCullough scored 12 points and blocked 4 shots for MSU, while Marcus Marshall scored 11, and Loomis Gerring snagged a game-high 7 rebounds for the home side.
Bobby Hunter led three Illinois State players in double figures with 17 points on a 7-for-8 shooting day, while DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell added 12, and MiKyle McIntosh scored 11.
Marshall scored the game's first points on a traditional 3-point play just 43 seconds into the contest, but seven minutes later ISU opened up a double-digit lead for the first team on a steal and layup by Paris Lee to make it an 18-7 game.
ISU made its first four 3-pointers to keep the Bears at arm's length, but McCullough's jumper with 8 minutes left in the first half brought Missouri State back within 24-17. The Redbirds then responded by scoring 13 of the game's next 17 points before Christian Kirk knocked down a short jumper for the home side to make it a 37-23 game with 3:01 left before the break.
But Illinois State ended the half by making six straight field goals and went into the intermission with a 49-27 advantage behind a 14-for-15 effort at the line and 7-of-10 conversions from beyond the arc.
The Bears were able to keep ISU's offense in check in the second half and out-rebounded the visitors by a 20-13 margin in that span. But the comeback effort that helped MSU overcome a 16-point deficit to the Redbirds last season at JQH Arena wasn't there this time. Every time the Bears got within striking distance, ISU responded.
An Austin Ruder transition bucket with 15 minutes to play made it a 16-point game, but Lee answered with a 3-point play on ISU's next possession. The Bears missed their next nine shots until freshman Chris Kendrix knocked down MSU's only 3-pointer of the game with 7:23 to go and make it a 62-45 game. Less than 2 minutes later Tony Willis drained ISU's ninth trey of the afternoon to push the Redbirds back ahead by 19.
Missouri State outscored ISU 8-3 from there as McCullough scored twice, Loomis Gerring converted a layup and Shawn Roundtree Jr., connected on a short jumper before the final horn.
For the game, the Bears finished 19-for-53 (.358) overall and 1-of-13 (.077) from beyond the arc, while converting 16-of-21 (.762) from the line. MSU committed 11 turnovers, blocked 6 shots and snagged 7 steals.
Illinois State out-rebounded the Bears by a 39-29 margin and got 41 points from its reserves to help overcome 14 turnovers. The Redbirds finished 20-for-50 (.400) from the field, 9-of-15 (.600) from long distance and 20-of-24 (.833) at the line.
The Bears will look to snap their two-game league skid when they conclude their two-game Valley home stand Wednesday against Evansville (12-4, 2-2 MVC) at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available now at MissouriStateBears.com or by calling the MSU Athletics Box Office in JQH Arena at (417) 836-7678 during regular office hours.
At halftime of the Evansville game, Missouri State will recognize its 243 student-athletes who achieved a 3.0 grade-point average during the fall semester with its Athletic Director's Honor Roll ceremony. New Bears' football coach Dave Steckel will also speak to fans at halftime of Wednesday's game.
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