Missouri State University

SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State has outgained No. 17 North Dakota State 216-40 but has missed three field goal attempts in the first half, resulting in a scoreless deadlock at the intermission on the season finale for the Bears.

The Bears drove to the NDSU 14 on the game's opening drive, but a missed 31-yard field goal by Austin Witmer ended the 14-play drive that consumed nearly five-and-a-half minutes.

The Bison (7-3), fighting for a Division I FCS playoff spot, have crossed midfield just once in the first 30 minutes, resulting in punts on all five first-half drives.

Missouri State punted three times, but rallied to the NDSU 26 before a 44-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right with the wind with 8:07 left in the second quarter. Just prior to the half, Witmer missed another 31-yard attempt, this time to the left, to end a 10-play, 57-yard drive.

The Bears have accumulated 133 rushing yards, including 87 from Chris Douglas who became the Bears' 10th 1,000-yard rusher and first since Cody Pratt in 2004.  Douglas is averaging 7.9 yards on 11 carries in the first half.

Cody Kirby eclipsed 9,000 career yards in total offense during the first half. He was 11-for-17 for 83 yards through the air with 32 rushing yards for the Bears.

NDSU has 18 rushing yards from starting quarterback Brock Jensen who is 3-for-9 through the air for 16 yards.