The Missouri State Bears dropped an 88-77 Missouri Valley Conference game at Drake on Tuesday night as the host Bulldogs went 14-for-22 from three-point range. The Bears meanwhile were just 1-for-16 from three.
The Bears fell behind by 25 points with 4:35 to play in the first half on a bucket by Ryan Wedel that made it a 41-16 game. Drake made the game’s first 12 points and was 13-of-15 from the field as late as the 8:33 mark of the opening period.
Missouri State (13-4, 3-3 MVC) went into the intermission trailing 51-29 and ended a 21-8 run to cut the Drake lead to 59-50 with 12:43 in the game. What the Bears lacked in three point shooting, they made up at the three point line.
They were down 69-62 with just over six minutes to go as Jermaine Mallett scored a traditional three-point play. The Bears finished 18-for-19 (.947) at the free throw line. However, Drake responded with three more treys in the final five minutes to put the game out of reach.
Missouri State looks to rebound Saturday at 2:05 p.m. when it plays at Bradley (7-8, 2-3).