Missouri State Bears (5-2) vs. Valparaiso Crusaders (7-2)
Date and Time	Saturday, Dec. 10, 7:02 p.m.
Location	JQH Arena (11,000) | Springfield, Mo.
Tickets	Valpo Game | Season Tickets
Radio	KTXR (101.3 FM) (Art Hains, Mike Keltner) | MSU Radio Network | Listen Live
Television	ESPN3 (Don West, Corey Riggs)
Series	Missouri State Leads 14-6 | Last Meeting: Valpo 74, MSU 45 (12/19/15)
Live Stats	Live Stats
Game Notes	Missouri State | Valpo | MVC Notebook | MSU Media Guide
Follow	Facebook | Athletics Twitter | Basketball Twitter | Instagram | #MSUBears
Promotions	$5 Upper Level | $15 Lower Level (E, J, O, P) | $50 Family Four Pack - includes four tickets in JJ, plus $25 concessions voucher | BLACK OUT

The Missouri State Bears (5-2) return to JQH Arena on Saturday evening for a "Black Out" game against Valparaiso at 7 p.m., as coach Paul Lusk's troops begin a season-long, four-game home stand. The Bears rank third in the MVC in winning percentage headed into the final three weeks of non-conference play. LUSK PREVIEW

Enjoy the Game
The Old Missouri Bank Box Office at JQH Arena opens at 10 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Box office purchase are also available by phone at (417) 836-7678. Tickets may also be purchased 24/7 online and printed from home at MissouriStateBears.com. Game-day ticket specials are also available at the box office. JQH Arena doors open at 6 p.m. for Saturday's game, which also includes a halftime performance from The Sugar Bears!

Series History
  Missouri State has dominated the all-time series between the two clubs, leading 14-6 in a rivalry that dates back to 1967. However, the Bears have lost the last three meetings, including a devastating 80-67 defeat on Feb. 19, 2011 in MSU's conference championship season.
  Valparaiso defeated MSU 62-54 in Springfield on Dec. 15, 2012 in the only series matchup at JQH Arena, while Valpo dominated the Bears a year ago, rolling to a 74-45 win in Valparaiso on Dec. 19, 2015. MSU is 6-2 all-time at home in the series (0-1 at JQH Arena).

Scouting Valparaiso
  First-year head coach Matt Lottich (Stanford, 2004) inherits a Valparaiso club that was 30-7 a year ago, 16-2 (1st) in the Horizon League and finished as national runners-up in the NIT.
Valparaiso has two starters and eight lettermen back from that team, including All-American Alec Peters (F, 6-9, Washington, Ill.) who averages 25.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while also getting to the foul line more than eight times a game. Peters also leads the Crusaders in 3-point shooting and blocks and is third on the team in assists.
  VU had a four-game winning streak snapped Wednesday night at Kentucky where they tallied 18 offensive rebonds and forced 17 Kentucky turnovers at Rupp Arena in an 87-63 defeat to the Wildcats.

Breaking Down the Black Out
  MSU will break out its alternate black jerseys for Saturday's game against Valparaiso for what is believed to be the first time in school history. The Bears have had some success in recent years in alternate jerseys. Missouri State was 4-0 in alternate gray uniforms in 2012-13 and 2-0 in grays in 2013-14. MSU was 2-3 in alternate white and gold jerseys last year and 2-1 in maroon and gold in 2014-15.

The Ten Count

• Alize Johnson (Jr., Williamsport, Pa.) is coming off his third double-double in 7 games. The last Bears newcomer to have three double-doubles in a season was then-freshman Kyle Weems in 2008-09.
• Johnson also enters the weekend ranked 2nd in the MVC in rebounding (7.7), tops among Valley newcomers.
• In the first start of his MSU career, Jarrid Rhodes (Jr., Palmetto, Fla.) had 10 points and 3 assists at SEMO on Wednesday, marking Rhodes' first double-figure scoring game since his debut against Alabama A&M.
• Dequon Miller (Sr., Charleston, W.Va.) ranks 5th in the MVC in free throw percentage (.833). He went 7-for-10 at the line at SEMO on Wednesday to cap a run of 16 straight makes from the stripe that began in the season opener.
• Ryan Kreklow (So., Columbia, Mo.) has knocked down a 3-pointer in every game this season and 11 straight games overall. He has also made 9 straight starts and tallied at least one steal in 9 of his last 11 appearances.
• MSU's bench continues to be a big part of the team's success with the Bears' reserves outscoring their opponents' subs, 223-103. MSU's non-starters are averaging 31.9 points and accounting for 39.4 percent of the team's offense.
• At 5-2 in non-MVC games this winter, MSU has matched its non-conference win total from last season (5-9).\
• Tyler McCullough (Sr., Fayetteville, Ark.) moved past current MSU assistant coach Keith Pickens (2009-14) on the Bears' career blocked shot list Wednesday. The 71st rejection of his career puts him along in the No. 10 spot.
• Two MSU regulars are approaching scoring milestones with Chris Kendrix (Jr. Willard, Mo.) needing just 8 points for 600 in his career (66 games), while Jarred Dixon (So., Kansas City) is just 6 points from 300 (37 games).
• Valpo's Alec Peters leads the Crusaders in scoring (25.1), rebounding (9.0), 3-pointers (12), blocks (5), free throws (72) and free throw attempts (76). He ranks 2nd nationally in scoring and 12th in free throw percentage (.947).