Missouri State got 23 points from Kyle Weems and shot 57.4 percent from the field to secure a 84-48 exhibition men’s basketball win in Joplin Saturday over Missouri Southern in the I-44 Challenge. The event was a fund-raising benefit with all proceeds from the game going directly to the Missouri Southern Foundation’s Tornado Emergency Relief Fund.
Weems led four Bears in double figures, as Caleb Patterson scored 13, Christian Kirk poured in 11, and Jarmar Gulley contributed 10 for MSU which capped a three-game exhibition slate.
Missouri Southern, which was led by Marquis Addison with 15 points, also got 11 from Stephen Atkinson.
Missouri State finished 35-for-61 (.574) from the field with six three-pointers and were 8-for-11 (.727) from the line. MSU committed an uncharacteristic 20 turnovers, but forced 21, and gathered 12 steals and 19 assists.
The Bears will open the 2011-12 regular season this Friday at Nevada, a 9 p.m. (Central) tipoff in Reno.