Missouri State improved to 6-0 on the season with a 75-62 win at Arkansas-Little Rock (3-5) on Wednesday night at Jack Stephens Center. The Bears were led by freshman Michael Porter with 16 points, while Caleb Patterson scored 14 — both off the bench.
The Bears trailed 12-9 in the early going on a three-pointer by Mike Smith at the 12:52 mark of the first half before the Bears gained the lead on a basket by Weems two minutes later. That started a 10-0 run by Missouri State to lead 24-14 with just over five minutes remaining in the first stanza, and then baskets by Patterson, Porter and Keith Pickens over the next 90 seconds extended the Bears lead to 31-16 before ultimately holding a 33-22 lead at the intermission.
The second half started with six quick points in the first minute by MSU on a jumper by Pickens and power dunks by both Weems and Pickens to built a 39-22 advantage. Missouri State held the double-figure lead until the 1:34 mark as the Bears held the Trojans without a field goal for nearly a five-minute stretch late in the half. UALR made 18 of its 20 free throws in the second half and shot 42.2 percent from the field with Smith and Solomon Bozeman each scoring a team-high 12 points. Adam Leonard added 12 for the Bears, while Pickens and Weems scored 10 apiece. MSU shot 56.6 percent and outrebounded UALR by a 30-23 margin.
The Bears take on Air Force Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at JQH Arena in Springfield as they look to improve on their best start since 2005-06. Story courtesy of MSU athletics.
