March 4, 2016
Updated Missouri State Game Notes | Arch Madness Tournament Central | Tickets |
MVC Weekly Notebook | MSU Fan Hangout
- Camyn Boone (Sr., Mesa, Ariz.) has scored in double figures 6 times in the last 8 games, including a game-high 17 points in MSU's senior night win over Drake and a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) in the MVC finale at SIU.
- Chris Kendrix (So., Willard, Mo.) has scored in double figures in 9 straight games and has improved his overall scoring average from 6.3 points per game as a freshman to 12.1 as a sophomore. He averaged 16.0 ppg in February (4th in the league), averaged 16.1 over the second half (4th in league) and sits 17th overall in scoring (12.1).
- MVC Newcomer of the Year Dequon Miller (Jr., Charleston, W.Va.) has multiple treys in 5 straight games. In Valley games, he ranks 7th in the league in scoring (13.4), 6th in 3-pointers (1.9) and 2nd in minutes played (36.1).
- MSU is 12-5 this season when out-rebounding its opponents and 0-13 when getting out-rebounded.
- The Bears have eclipsed 2,000 points this season (2,028), a milestone the club has reached just once since 2011-12. The squad's overall scoring average has improved from 59.7 points per game last year to 67.6 this year.
- Obediah Church (Fr., Springfield, Ill.) ranks 1st among Valley freshmen in rebounds (6.5) and blocks (46), while ranking 3rd in assists (43) and steals (21). The MVC All-Freshman Team selection has the 8th-best scoring average (6.5) among MVC freshmen and is 2nd overall in the league in blocks, 6th in rebounds and 4th in offensive boards.
- Ryan Kreklow (Fr., Columbia, Mo.) is expected to make his 5th start of the season in place of injured MVC All-Freshman Team selection Jarred Dixon. Kreklow's father, Wayne, played at Drake (1975-79) and was on DU's All-Century Team.
- Tyler McCullough (Jr., Fayetteville, Ark.) needs 1 rebound to reach 200 for his career (84 games).
- MSU's veteran guards have missed 61 games this season with injuries. Returning starters Dorrian Williams (hamstring/knee) and Austin Ruder (hip) have missed 11 and 25 games, while Shawn Roundtree (hamstring) has missed 25.
- Missouri State is 28-24 all-time in the MVC Tournament, including a 3-0 mark in the opening round as the No. 7 seed.
MSU's four freshmen players have emerged as an intrigal part of the club's rotation this season, becoming just the fourth freshman class in program history to tally more than 600 combined points.
The Bears' freshmen have combined to play 2,171 minutes this season, which ranks No. 35 nationally among all Division I programs. They have also tallied 629 points (21.0 ppg), which accounts for 31.0 percent of the team's offense. MSU ranks 54th nationally in freshman ppg and 58th in freshman scoring percentage.
With the Feb. 29 announcement of a season-ending hand injury to Jarred Dixon (Fr., Kansas City, Mo.), the Bears have now lost four guards to season-ending injuries this campaign. Returning lettermen Dorrian Williams (Sr., Oklahoma City, Okla.), Austin Ruder (Jr., Nixa, Mo.) and Shawn Roundtree (So., Edwardsville, Ill.) are also out for the remainder of the season. Ruder, who started 25 games last season, has missed 25 games with a hip injury this season, Williams, a four-year starter, has missed 11 total Valey games with separate hamstring and knee injuries, and Roundtree, who started twice last season, has been out the last 25 games with a hamstring injury. The Bears were 4-7 in league games without Williams who ranks 8th on MSU's career minutes played list (3,083) and is 9th in assists (373).
With Missouri State's Feb. 24 home win over Drake, the Bears capped an 8-7 record at JQH Arena this season and solidified the program's 45th straight winning season at home, a streak that began in 1971-72.
Miller is MVC Newcomer of the Year
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Junior guard Dequon Miller (Charleston, W.Va.) was named MVC Newcomer of the Week five times this season, most recently on Jan. 25, en route to earning MVC Newcomer of the Year. Since the award began in 2003-04, only three other MVC players have won the honor more times in their rookie season -- seven-time winner Doug McDermott (Creighton 2010-11), and six-time winners Cleanthony Early (Wichita State 2012-13) and Marcellus Sommerville (Bradley 2003-04).
Only four previous Missouri State players -- Danny Moore (1997), Mike Wallace (2001), Spencer Laurie (2007) and Adam Leonard (2010) -- have earned the prestigious honor of MVC Newcomer of the Year.
Two Bears on All-Freshman Team
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Freshmen Obediah Church and Jarred Dixon earned conference distinction on the MVC All-Freshman Team, the league announced March 1.
Church has also started all 30 games for MSU this season and leads all MVC freshmen in blocked shots (46) and rebounds (183) while posting the third-best freshman totals in assists (43) and steals (21). His 6.1 rebounds per game represent the sixth-best overall effort in the MVC, while his 1.9 offensive rebounds rank fourth and his 1.5 blocks rank second. He also has accounted for 34 dunks this season, the most on record by any Missouri State player.
Dixon came into his own in conference play, averaging 9.6 points per game during the 18-game Valley stretch. He is averaging 1.3 steals per game which is the fifth-best total in the league and tops among all freshmen, while his 1.7 steals in conference games ties him for fourth overall with Wichita State's Ron Baker. Likewise, Dixon's 40 steals leads all MSU players and is the third-best season total ever by an MSU freshman. He is averaging 8.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game..
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