by PointGuard » Sat Dec 05, 2015 1:22 am
Game #14, Jan. 11, 2019: Missouri State Bears (7-6, 1-3) at Evansville Purple Aces (4-8, 1-3)
TR: I’m here tonight with Flash Borden who has been fielding your comments and questions about the Bears on his nightly sports show on KSMO radio. So Flash, what is up with this team?
FB: I think that’s the question everyone is asking. The Bears played well in pre-conference play against some tough competition and were picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference this year. Thus far they have fizzled in conference play. They’re just not gelling as a team. Beyond Bart McCain and Brent Gregory, the other players are just not playing with any consistency. Seems like a guy will have a good game and then 2 or 3 bad ones.
TR: Yes, the coaches seem confused too. They’ve been starting a different group most every game.
FB: That’s right, Tyson. It’s like coaches are throwing darts to decide who will start at the 3, 4 and 5 positions. And whoever they choose may or may not show up to play well. But it’s a very young team. 9 of the 13 scholarship players are freshmen or sophomores and the entire front line is freshmen and sophomores. So I think there is a leadership vacuum.
TR: Turnovers have been a problem lately also.
FB: The team has definitely been turning the ball over more during this losing streak that they were earlier in the season. Again, though, that’s just a result of the team not playing all that well together lately.
TR: Well, we’re ready for the tip-off, Flash. Let’s see how the Bears do against a team they’re tied with at the bottom of the conference standings.
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The Bears let Evansville get some easy baskets inside on those first two possessions.
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Wells hits a baseline jumper and is fouled. He drops in the free throw to make it 10-8 in favor of Missouri State.
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Aaron Wells puts up a long 3 pointer and it drops! That puts the Bears ahead 15-6 with 13:52 remaining in the first half. Wells how has 8 points.
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Wow! The fouls keep mounting up on both teams. Bart McCain will go to the line for the Bears. He makes the first and misses the second to give the Bears a 24-14 lead. This team of refs must have all got shiny new whistles for Christmas.
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Another inside bucket for the Purple Aces. That’s 8 unanswered points cutting the lead to 24-22.
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Kenneth Grandison takes a pass deep down along the right baseline. He fakes his man and then puts up a shot that falls through the silks to put the Bears ahead 32-27 with 90 seconds to go in the half.
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Evansville’s Marty Rollerson puts up a 30 footer at the buzzer that goes in to knot the score at 34-34 as the teams head off the floor for the break.
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Evansville hit 63% of their shots in the first half. The Bears need to not let them get so many easy shots. Aaron Wells 8 points led the Bear’s attack.
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Following the 4th straight turnover by Evansville, the Bears finally convert as Gregory hits a 3 from the right corner to make it 41-36, Bears.
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Simmons shot misses, but Hollins get the offensive rebound out in the key and puts it back up. He’s fouled on the shot and goes to the line for 2 shots. He sinks both shots to give him 10 points and put the Bears ahead 54-43 with 10:52 on the clock.
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Bart McCain drives down the lane, puts up a contested shot that drops. There’s a time out on the floor with 3:48 to play and the Bears on top 60-54.
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The ball goes over to Brent Gregory. He’s free for a 3 pointer and it drops to make the score 65-56 with 2:09 left. That’s 16 points for Gregory.
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Grandison chips in a 3 with 25 seconds to go. 71-61 now.
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The buzzer sounds. Missouri State has broken their 3 game loss streak with a 73-61 victory. While outshot 51% to 42%, the Bears held a 24-23 rebounding advantage and more importantly a 20-13 turnover advantage.
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Final Score: Missouri State (8-6, 2-3, 6th place tie)—73, Evansville—61.
Leading players for Missouri State: SG Brent Gregory-16 pts, 2 assists, 3 reb, 1 steal; PG Bart McCain-11 pts, 4 assists, 1 reb, 1 steal; C Marquis Hollins-10 pts, 1 assist, 7 reb; SF Aaron Wells-9 pts, 2 steals.
Player of the Game: SG Brent Gregory-16 pts, 2 assists, 3 reb, 1 steal.
Dynasty Threads:
Fedora-CB;Town Crier-CB;FIve Friends/Foes-CB;Media Perspective-CB;Whatever It Takes-CB;Who's Bret Vandergard-CB;Gym Rat-CB;Repairman-CB;S. Mastroani-TPG;V. Stevenson-TPG