Missouri State University

Feb. 12, 2013

SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State's Anthony Downing scored on a floater in the lane with 27 seconds left in the first half to give the Bears a 29-28 lead over visiting Indiana State at the half.

Christian Kirk has a game-high 10 points for MSU at the break, with Marcus Marshall adding 8, and Keith Pickens scoring 6 for the home club, which has shot 48 percent (12-for-25) from the field.

Indiana State, which has 9 points from Jake Odum in the first 20 minutes, jumped out to a 6-0 lead on back-to-back treys by Manny Arop in the first 90 seconds. The Sycamores builed that lead to 13-5 after a 7-0 run that culminated in a 20-footer by Arop at the 14:22 mark.

The Bears then leaned on Kirk to bring them back as the sophomore from Springfield knocked down the gray-clad Bears' next five field goals, the last of which made it a 20-16 game just past the midway point.

Consecutive baskets by Odum later gave ISU a 26-20 advantage, but the Bears rallied behind a traditional 3-point play and a 20-footer by Marshall to make it a one-point contest with 3:13 to go.  In the final 90 seconds, MSU drew a pair of offensive fouls on the Sycamores, which gave Missouri State a chance to push ahead on Downing's only field goal of the half.

The Bears were 1-for-5 (.200) from 3-point range and 4-of-5 (.800) at the line with 4 turnovers. Downing has a team-high 4 rebounds.

ISU is 10-for-29 (.345) from the field, 4-of-9 (.444) from beyond the arc and 4-for-4 (1.000) at the line. Indiana State has 6 turnovers and a 17-14 rebounding advantage, including 6 offensive caroms.

Greg Lansing's squad entered the game tied for first place at 9-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference.