ST. THOMAS, US Virgin Islands – Donovan Clay scored a game-high 16 points, while Matthew Lee posted his first career double-double to lead Missouri State past Kent State here Sunday evening in the semifinals of the US Virgin Islands Paradise Jam.
Lee had 13 points and 10 rebounds, but most notably made four free throws in the final 27 seconds to seal the win as the Bears (3-1) held off a late surge from the Golden Flashes (3-2).
Kent State came into the contest averaging 91.5 points per game, but the Bears were resolute with their defensive effort, out-rebounding their MAC foe, 51-37, and holding them to 32.8 percent from the field and 13.6 percent from 3-point range.
The Bears didn’t light it up on the offensive end, but survived a six-and-a-half minute scoring drought down the stretch before Lee’s elbow jumper with 2:12 remaining ended an 8-0 KSU run and put the Bears ahead 50-47.
On Missouri State’s next possession, Clay scored with his left hand to make it 52-47 with 81 seconds remaining, and then Lee stood out again on the defensive end with a steal on Kent State’s next trip.
After the Bears failed to capitalize on Lee’s defensive takeaway, Julius Rollins slipped past the MSU defense for a break-away dunk to get Kent State within 52-49. Lee made one-of-two at the line with 27 seconds to play, and the Bears stood tall again on the defensive end, first on a blocked 3-pointer by Damien Mayo Jr. in the corner, and then a clutch defensive board for Lee, his game-high 10th carom of the night.
Lee went back to the line twice more in the final 10 seconds, splashing home 3-of-4 in crunch time from the stripe to put things out of reach.
The Bears finished 18-of-54 (.333) from the field, 7-for-22 (.318) from long range and 13-for-23 (.565) at the line with 19 turnovers, 5 blocks and 5 steals.
Cesare Edwards added 11 points and 8 rebounds for MoState, while Chance Moore posted 9 points in his return to the Bears’ rotation. Clay also added 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
Kent State was 22-of-67 (.328) overall from the field, 3-for-22 (.136) from distance and 5-for-12 (.417) at the stripe with 9 turnovers and 8 steals.
For the third game in a row, the Bears never trailed.
In the first half, Missouri State built an 11-point lead twice with Moore’s 3-pointer giving MSU a 28-17 advantage at the 7:26 mark. Just over a minute later, Edwards scored down low to make it 30-19. But the Golden Flashes ended the half on an 8-3 run, holding the Bears without a field goal for the final six minutes to make it 33-27 at the midway point.
Clay scored 11 points in the opening 20 minutes before sitting with three fouls.
The Bears will advance to play Abilene Christian (3-2) in Monday’s 7 p.m. (Central) championship game. The Wildcats defeated San Jose State, 77-71, and Fordham, 59-45, to advance to the finals.
After the Paradise Jam event, the Bears return home on Saturday, Nov. 25 to battle South Carolina State at 1 p.m. Missouri State welcomes back coach Steve Alford and the 1999 Bears for that game, along with the jersey retirement ceremony of Bears’ great Danny Moore at halftime.
