Jackies Stiles (photo from her website, jstilesonline.com)

Missouri State Lady Bears basketball legend Jackie Stiles interviewed for the Drury University women’s basketball job this week, according to the Springfield News-Leader. Missouri State also continues its search to fill its women’s basketball vacancy. There are three other finalists for the Drury job.

Stiles is a legend in Springfield. She led then-Southwest Missouri State to the Final Four in 2001 and joined the coaching staff of former Bear, Charity Elliott last summer at NCAA Division I Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, CA. Stiles’ interview with Drury comes shortly after Loyola Marymount issued a statement in which it said Elliott and Stiles had not been in direct contact with Missouri State.

Missouri State Athletic Director Kyle Moats has not released any public statements on where the school is at in the hiring process. MSU fired Nyla Milleson on March 18.

Drury is searching for a new coach after Steve Harold resigned March 5. He was 129-52 in six seasons and led the Lady Panthers to five of their 10 consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, a streak that ended this season.

Missouri State (5-11, 3-1) got 24 points from Anthony Downing and held visiting Illinois State (9-7, 0-4) to a season-low scoring total in a 62-55 victory over the Redbirds at JQH Arena, Tuesday night in Missouri Valley Conference play.

The Bears led by as many as 12 in the second half and held on late as Downing made 6-of-8 free throws in the final 68 seconds to secure MSU’s second conference win in a row. Downing also contributed a career-high 8 assists, while Marcus Marshall added 14 points for the Bears.  Downing made 7-of-10 field goals overall, connecting on 2-of-4 3-pionters, and collecting 3 rebounds and 2 steals in his second 24-point effort in a row.

Missouri State finished 22-for-47 (.468) from the field after producing at a 54.2 percent clip in the first half. The Bears were an efficient 7-for-16 (.438) from long range and made 11-of-18 (.611) free throws — of which 10 attempts came in the final 83 seconds.

The Bears will conclude the two-game home stand on Friday when they entertain the No. 11/13 Creighton Bluejays at 7:05 p.m.

A jumper by Nick Russell with 8.3 seconds to go was the difference as Southern Methodist (6-1) escaped with a 62-61 win over Missouri State in the third-place game of the Hoops for Hope Classic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  The Bears (2-4) took a 61-60 lead briefly on a 3-pointer by Marcus Marshall with 16.6 seconds left before Mustangs’ coach Larry Brown called a timeout to set up the winning play. Russell, who finished with a game-high 25 points,knocked down a short jumper.

The Bears rushed down the court, but Marshall’s three from the left wing was blocked. No foul call was made as time expired on Marshall’s shot.  Anthony Downing had 20 points and a game-high 8 rebounds for Missouri State, while Marshall finished with 18, and Christian Kirk scored 8.

The Bears return home on Saturday afternoon at 4:35 to take on Oral Roberts in non-conference play.