Missouri State

CINCINNATI – Missouri State's Keith Palek III racked up game-highs 23 points and 11 rebounds to help the visiting Bears stay close, but a 17-0 run by home standing Xavier midway through the second half proved to be the difference in a 75-57 MoState loss here Friday.
 
Xavier shot 52 percent from the field in the second half and converted 6-of-7 attempts during the pivotal run over a six-and-a-half minute stretch in the final period. After Palek's layup at the 17-minute mark drew the Bears within 39-35, the Musketeers (8-3) used the strength of three 3-pointers and some key fast-break opportunities to push ahead 54-35 by the 11-minute mark.
 
Trey Williams Jr. broke the MSU slump with a triple with 10:37 to go – one of just three long-range buckets by the Bears on the night – to put the Bears back on track. But with the damage already done, Xavier pushed its advantage to 20 on three occasions down the stretch with Melakih Cunningham's layup in the final minute deciding the final margin.
 
For the game, the Bears were 21-of-53 (.396) from the field, 3-for-14 (.214) from downtown and 12-of-15 (.800) from the line with 15 assists, 13 turnovers and 36 points in the paint.
 
The Bears (4-5) were narrowly out-rebounded by the larger Xavier squad, 37-36, but were limited to just six second-chance points.
 
The game marked Palek's second double-double of the season -- and 15th of his career -- while eclipsing 20 points for the fifth time on the young season. Darrion Sutton was also in double-figures for the Bears with 12 points and 5 rebounds off the bench.
 
Xavier was led by Jovan Milicevic's 17 points, while Filip Borovicanin and Tre Carroll added 13 apiece, including three triples apiece.
 
The Musketeers finished 28-for-65 (.431) from the field, 12-of-30 (.400) from long range and 7-for-12 (.583) at the line with 15 fast-break points.
 
In the first half, Palek's 10 points and 7 rebounds paced the Bears to within three of the lead, 31-28, at the midway point. Palek and Sutton accounted for all of MSU's scoring during an 8-0 run to put the visitors ahead 17-13 less than nine minutes in.
 
The Musketeers were 1-for-11 from the field during a key seven-minute stretch while the Bears gained their footing.
 
Xavier answered MSU's early run with a 9-1 surge of its own over the next four minutes, capped on a traditional three-point play by Carroll to give the home club a 22-19 edge. The lead would change hands six more times over the final seven minutes of the stanza, including a go-ahead layup from Logan Epes with 93 seconds remaining to give the Bears a 28-27 lead. But the Musketeers ended the half on a 4-0 swing with Milicevic accounting for two of his game-high 12 points in the half with a layup at the seven-second mark.
 
The Bears were 11-of-29 from the field in the first half and out-rebounded Xavier by a 21-19 margin. Neither team led by more than four points in the opening half.
  
The  Bears are back at Great Southern Bank Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 16 to square off with Oral Roberts, at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Oral Roberts game, and all remaining home games, can be purchased at MissouriStateBears.com/tickets or by visiting the Athletics Box Office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.
 
A complete list of season promotions and ticket specials is also available at MissouriStateBears.com/promotions.