Missouri State University

Dec. 15, 2012

SPRINGFIELD -- A dunk by Christian Kirk with 2:39 left in the first half put Missouri State on top for the first time and helped the Bears take a 26-24 lead at the break over visiting Valparaiso.

Kirk has 8 points for MSU, while Marcus Marshall scored  Dority has 8 points off the bench for the Crusaders in his first-ever Division I game.

After falling behind 9-4 just under six minutes into the game, the Bears started climbing back. A Nathan Scheer free throw and running layup in transition by Marcus Marshall cut the MSU deficit to two points before a jumper by Anthony Downing tied the game, 9-9, at the 10:39 mark.

The Crusaders needed only 22 seconds to retake the lead as a Ryan Broekhoff trey and salute the JQH crowd pushed VU up by three.  The lead then teetered between one and three for the visitors over the next three minutes before a LaVonte Dority 3-pointer and pick-and-roll basket by Bobby Capobianco pushed Valparaiso ahead 19-13 with just over seven minutes to play in the half.

A jumper and 3-pointer by Marcus Marshall, and a hook shoot and dunk by Kirk over a three-minute span pushed the Bears ahead 24-22, before a pair of free throws by Keith Pickens with 1:02 left gave Missouri State its final 26-24 margin at the break.

But, Valparaiso went the final 7:05 without a field goal, and the Bears went on a 13-5 run before the intermission to take a 26-24 lead into the locker room.

Missouri State was 11-for-23 (.478) from the field and 1-for-3 from bonus distance with just three turnovers.

Valparaiso was 8-for-20 (.400) from the floor and just 3-for-11 (.273) from long range. VU out-rebounded the home club by a 17-8 margin and had nine turnovers.