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SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State (8-4) got 28 points from Isiaih Mosley and 14 apiece from Gaige Prim, Ja’Monta Black and Jaylen Minnett, to turn back visiting Central Arkansas, 106-70, here Saturday.With the win, the Bears extended their win streak to four straight and swept all three games of their three-game home stand.For the second time in four games, Missouri State flirted with its school 3-point record, coming up one shy of the program high-water mark of 17 from beyond the arc. On Saturday, MSU was 16-of-32 from long range with Mosley hitting a career-high six bombs, while Minnett and Black contributed four treys apiece.The team’s offensive output marked the first time since Dec. 4, 2010 — ironically against Central Arkansas — that Missouri State has eclipsed 100 points against a Division I opponent.The night started slowly for the home club as they converted just 3-of-14 field goal attempts through the game’s first six-and-a-half minutes. But once they turned things around, the Bears’ offense proved too much.MSU shot 67-percent from the field in the second half (25-of-37) and finished 39-of-73 (.534) overall to complete their fifth 50-percent shooting effort of the season.The Bears took less than four minutes into the second half to move ahead by 20 points for the first time and pushed ahead 96-65 after a Mosley steal and dunk with just under four minutes to play.Missouri State ended the game on a 15-5 run with Nic Tata’s two offensive put-backs in the final minutes give the Bears their biggest lead of the evening on the game’s final points.Coach Dana Ford‘s squad out-rebounded UCA, 37-28, and turned the ball over just five times. The Bears also did their job at the foul line, making 12-of-13 (.923) from the stripe.Mosley led MSU with 7 rebounds, while Lu’Cye Patterson and Minnett dished out 5 assists apiece.Central Arkansas (1-9) was led by Darious Hall’s 18 points and game-high 10 rebounds, while Camren Hunter scored 16. The visiting club finished 25-of-57 (.439) from the field, but just 3-for-18 (.167) from long range and 17-for-18 (.944) from the foul line with 11 turnovers.In the first half, the Bears pushed ahead by 15 at the break despite the slow start. Mosley caught fire midway through the half, scoring 10 of MSU’s 12 points during a key three-minute stretch to give the Bears a six-point cushion at the 6:12 mark. From there, it was all Bears with Minnett, Prim and Mosley leading a 14-4 Bears surge in the final five minutes before the half.The Bears turned the ball over just twice in the first 20 minutes and overcame a 39-percent shooting performance with a 21-16 rebounding edge, allowing UCA no second-chance points.Missouri State returns to the road Wednesday for a 9 p.m. (Central) game at St. Mary’s of California (10-3) before concluding non-conference action on Thursday, Dec. 30 against cross-town foe Evangel at 12 p.m.
