SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State turned up its defensive pressure in the second half, and it didn’t take long for the results to start showing. The Bears (10-5, 1-1 MVC) held visiting Drake to 31 percent shooting in the game’s final 20 minutes and erased an early double-figure deficit in a 61-56 win in Missouri Valley Conference play here Sunday.
MoState was led by Donovan Clay’s 15 points, while Gaige Prim racked up 13 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double in six career games against the Bulldogs (10-5, 1-1).
Isiaih Mosley also pitched in 7 points, 9 rebounds and a game-high 5 assists in the win. He and Prim both eclipsed 1,000 career points at MSU, become the 30th and 31st players to do so.
“Defense won the game for us,” said Missouri State head coach Dana Ford. “I thought we did a much better job defending them in the second half, and that was the difference. They’re a difficult team to guard, but we really seemed to get in a stance, clench our fists and fight on every possession.”
Drake managed just 10 second-half field goals on 30 possessions and with eight turnovers. The Bulldogs also had just four offensive rebounds in the first 18 minutes of the second half before two video reviews overturned a pair of team rebounds, and four offensive caroms on their final possession of the game.
After trailing by 11 in the first half, Missouri State ended the opening period on a 7-2 run to cut its deficit to 29-23 – the Bears’ second-lowest scoring half of the season. But the home side turned the page in the second period, erupting for 13 points in the first three minutes of the period.
Clay’s traditional 3-point play at the 17:14 mark, gave Missouri State a 36-33 advantage, its first lead since 4-2 and forced a Drake timeout.
Tremell Murphy came out of the timeout with a pair of free throws to get DU within one, but that was as close as the Bulldogs would get the rest of the night. The Bears responded with a 9-0 outburst to lead 47-37 at the 13-minute mark, while holding the visitors to one field goal over a seven-minute span.
For all their scoring accolades, Mosley and Prim pitched in with assists on some of the game’s biggest baskets. Diving on the floor for a 50-50 ball, Mosley scooped the ball to a wide-open Ja’Monta Black for a 3-pointer as part of MSU’s initial second-half surge. Later, Prim found an open Isaac Haney in the corner at the 12-minute mark to give the Bears a 50-39 lead, matching their largest of the game. Finally, Mosley court vision zeroed in on an open Demarcus Sharp for a clutch three to squelch a 5-0 Drake run and give the maroon side a 55-46 cushion with 4:22 to play.
Down the stretch, Drake got within 55-50 after a steal and layup from Garrett Sturtz, but Prim’s hook shot off the glass extended MSU’s lead to seven just before the three-minute mark.
Later, Clay broke the Drake press with a high-flying dunk with 61 seconds remaining to end another 4-0 mini-run by the visitors and give the Bears a 59-55 lead at the time.
Sharp and Clay added free throws down the stretch, and Drake missed five shots in the final 30 seconds while the clock ticked away.
Sturtz had 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead Drake, while Roman Penn scored 13 points. Darnell Brodie also snagged 10 rebounds for DU, which out-rebounded the Bears by a 43-35 margin.
Drake finished 20-of-58 (.345) overall, 1-for-16 (.063) from distance and 15-of-16 (.938) at the line with a dozen turnovers.
The Bears, who won their fifth in a row at home, finished 22-of-54 (.407) from the field, including a 51.9-percent effort in the second half. The Bears were 6-of-20 (.300) from long range and a surprising 11-of-20 (.550) at the line with 11 turnovers and 13 assists.
Missouri State continues Missouri Valley Conference play at Bradley on Wednesday (7 p.m.) before returning to JQH Arena next Saturday (5 p.m.) against Northern Iowa.Â
