GAME NOTES: Missouri Valley Conference action will take place this evening, as the Missouri State Bears host the Indiana State Sycamores at the Hammons Student Center. The Sycamores needed double-overtime to slip past Southern Illinois this past Saturday. The team pulled off a thrilling, 64-62 victory over the Salukis for its fifth win in its last six games. Indiana State is currently 9-6 on the season, but all six losses have come on the road. As for the Bears, they have dropped four of their last six games, including a 65-54 setback to Drake over the weekend. The loss leaves Missouri State at just 2-3 in league action and 9-8 overall. However, the team has done a terrific job at home, winning eight of its nine games at the Hammons Student Center. The Bears have dominated the all-time series against Indiana Staten posting a 32-15 edge over the Sycamores. Missouri State has won 12 of the last 13 meetings, including four in a row.

The Sycamores have used strong defensive play to produce victories and that was very evident the last time the team took the floor. Indiana State held Southern Illinois to a mere 62 points in a double-overtime win. Indiana State limited the Salukis to a shooting percentage below 40.0 percent and a 5-of-24 clip from behind the arc. This has been the typical defensive play for ISU all year, as the squad is limiting opponents to just 63.5 ppg. However, the concerns for the Sycamores come at the other end of the floor, as the team is netting only 64.0 ppg, while shooting a mere 41.7 percent. Marico Stinson is currently leading the way for Indiana State, netting 12.5 ppg. Gabe Moore is the only other player posting double figures, as the guard is chipping in 10.8 ppg. Moore is also leading the squad with 70 assists and 35 steals. In the victory over SIU, the Sycamores did not have their best outing, as the team shot a mere 32.1 percent from the floor. However, the team was 22-of-29 from the foul line and committed just six turnovers. Stinson led the way with 20 points, while Harry Marshall tallied 16 points. As for Moore, he was just 1- of-8 from the field, netting only three points, but he did dish out seven assists.

The Bears were atrocious the last time they were on the floor, scoring just 54 points in an 11-point setback to Drake. Missouri State shot 43.1 percent from the floor, but made only 3-of-20 attempts from long range and also committed 16 turnovers. Consistency has been an issue for the Bears offensively, as the team is netting just 66.8 ppg, despite shooting over 45.0 percent from the field. Deven Mitchell has been the main man for Missouri State, as the forward is leading the team with 15.5 ppg and 6.4 rpg. Dale Lamberth, who is shooting 42.9 percent from long range on the season, is contributing 12.5 ppg for the Bears. Both players continued their strong play against Drake, as Lamberth led the team with 19 points and seven rebounds. As for Mitchell, he posted 10 points in the loss. Unfortunately, the rest of the team totaled just 25 points.

The Bears should rebound from that lackluster effort against Drake and return to .500 in league play with a win tonight. Although Indiana State has played well, the team has struggled on the road and those road issues should continue this evening.