The Missouri St. Bears will try to improve to 7-0 for the first time since 1996, as face the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville Thursday night. History has not been good to the Bears in this season—the Razorbacks have won 15 of the 20 meetings. The two teams haven’t met since the 1987-1988 season.
MSU has been known for its defensive prowess under Barry Hinson, but this year the Bears have been one of the best offensive teams in the NCAA. The Bears are scoring 92.2 points per game, which is ranked second in the country and their .500 shooting percentage from behind the three-point line is the best in the nation. With the exception of Blake Ahearn, who is averaging 21 points per game, the rest of the scoring is evenly spread out between Tyler Chaney (13.2 ppg), Deke Thompson (11 ppg), Kellen Easley (10.2 ppg), Dale Lamberth (10.2 ppg), Sky Frasier (9.7 ppg) and Nathan Bilyeu (9.2 ppg).
The Razorbacks are 6-2 and have won four in a row. Their losses this season have been to UConn and Maryland. Junior guard Ronnie Brewer leads Arkansas in scoring with 20 points per game. Branson, Missouri native Steven Hill is averaging nine points and 4.4 rebounds per game, to go along with his 21 blocks in eight games.