SPRINGFIELD – Newcomers Chance Moore and Alston Mason paced Missouri State’s scoring with 18 and 13 points, respectively, to help lead the Bears to an 82-47 opening-night win over visiting Missouri S&T here Wednesday.
Fellow MoState newcomer Jonathan Mogbo added 11 points and 7 rebounds with Preseason All-MVC standout Donovan Clay also snagging a game-high 7 boards in the winning cause.
Coach Dana Ford’s Bears doubled up the Miners on the glass, out-rebounding the visitors by a 46-23 margin and holding them to just six second-chance points. The Bears also shot 55.2 percent from the field with 11 3-pointers.
“There are some areas we have to get better,” said Ford. “But if they’re playing hard like we did tonight, it gives us a chance. We have a lot to work on, but we have a lot to work with.”
Missouri State’s wealth of new talent was evident early with Matthew Lee scoring the first points of the season in the opening minute. Fellow transfers Jonathan Mogbo, Kendle Moore and Bryan Trimble Jr. then pitched in buckets before the first media timeout. By halftime, 10 of the 11 players who saw action found the scoring column, and the Bears held a 51-25 lead.
MSU shot 69 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes and carried that momentum into the second half. Coming out of the first media timeout of the second stanza, five different Bears scored as part of a 16-0 run that pushed the home side ahead 71-31 with 12:37 to go.
Less than three minutes later, Trimble knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a 77-33 game and provide the Bears with their biggest cushion of the night.
Missouri S&T was led by Ikenna Okeke and Andrew Young who each contributed 14 points while combining for four of the Miners’ five 3-pointers.
Aside from the rebounding advantage, the Bears held Missouri S&T to 30.6 percent from the field (19-of-62), forced 13 turnovers and racked up 6 steals and 5 blocks. Mogbo rejected three shots to lead all players.
The Bears will now have a week to prepare for their first road foe of the season as they travel to BYU on Nov. 16 for an 8 p.m. (Central) game in Provo, Utah. The Cougars (1-0) travel to No. 19 San Diego State on Friday before entertaining MSU.
Missouri State returns home on Nov. 19 to square off with Middle Tennessee at 2 p.m. at Great Southern Bank Arena.
