SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri S&T's men's basketball team ran into a hot-shooting Missouri State squad Wednesday night as the Bears handed the Miners an 82-47 loss in an exhibition contest for S&T at Great Southern Bank Arena.
The Bears, who were playing their official season opener, shot 69 percent from the field in the first half and 56.2 percent for the contest as they ran out to a huge lead by the midway point of the first half.
Despite its shooting struggles throughout the game – S&T made just 30.8 percent of its field goal attempts on the night – the Miners were able to hang in with the Bears over the first eight minutes of the contest. S&T trailed 13-9 after Ikenna Okeke made two free throws at the 14:45 mark, then a three-point basket by Andrew Young with 12:04 to go in the half put the Miners down by six at 18-12.
However, Missouri State outscored S&T 16-2 over the next four minutes to build a 20-point lead and the advantage grew to as much as 28 in the first half. The Bears, who also made seven three-pointers over the first 20 minutes, led 51-25 at the intermission.
Missouri S&T made 35.7 percent of its shots in the second half, but the Bears continued to blaze the nets over the first 10 minutes of the half before cooling down late in the contest.
Okeke and Young were the only Miners in double figures with 14 points apiece and combined to hit four of S&T's five three-point baskets. The Miners had just 13 turnovers in the game, three fewer than the Bears, but MSU doubled up S&T on the boards by a 46-23 margin.
Chance Moore, a transfer from the University of Arkansas, led the Bears with 18 points.
Missouri S&T will open its 2022-23 regular season schedule with a pair of games this weekend at the Drury Midwest Regional Classic, beginning with Friday's 4 p.m. contest against Lake Superior State. S&T will also take on Northwood in the event on Friday at 1 p.m.
