Missouri State edges Illinois State in MVC tournament quarterfinals

[March 10, 2014]  ST. LOUIS — Despite trailing by as many as eight points with less than nine minutes remaining in the Missouri Valley Conference quarterfinals, Illinois State manufactured a 10-0 run to briefly gain a two-point lead at the 5:40 mark Friday at Scottrade Center. However, Missouri State came back to edge the Redbirds 53-48, eliminating ISU from the tournament.

Zach Lofton netted a career-high 25 points while also earning career highs in field goals with nine and in 3-point field goals with five. He was the only Redbird to reach double figures. Reggie Lynch matched a career best in rebounding with eight boards. He also added three blocks and one steal. Meanwhile, Missouri State's Austin Ruder matched his career high in a 21-point scoring effort, including six 3-pointers.

Illinois State shot 32.7 percent from the field compared with 31.4 percent by Missouri State. The Bears also outrebounded the Redbirds 45-36, while ISU forced 10 steals contrasted with four by MSU.

With the loss, Illinois State fell to 16-15, and Missouri State improved to 20-11.

Missouri State pulled out to a 10-2 lead early with three free throws from Jarmar Gulley, a 3-pointer by Ruder and a Devon Thomas layup and jumper. Lofton netted ISU's first field goal with a jumper at the 10:41 mark, and the Redbirds later put together an 8-0 run, including seven points from Lofton, to trail only 15-13 with 6:53 remaining in the first half. A three-point play by Tony Wills pulled ISU within two at the 2:08 mark, but a Christian Kurt dunk with 20 seconds remaining secured a 22-17 Missouri State halftime advantage.

Nick Zeisloft drained a 3-pointer for ISU 17 seconds into the second half before the Bears answered with a 7-0 run to gain a 10-point lead, matching their largest of the game. However, Lofton single-handedly narrowed the gap with three consecutive 3-pointers that cut the Redbirds' deficit to 34-33 with 13:17 remaining.

After a Ruder 3-pointer re-established an eight-point MSU lead with 8:32 to play, ISU responded with a 10-0 run from 8:19 to 5:40, allowing the Redbirds to take their first lead, 41-43, on a three-point play by Paris Lee. Ruder's three free throws briefly gave Missouri State a 45-43 advantage before Bobby Hunter put ISU back in front with a 3-pointer at the 4:03 mark.

However, Ruder buried another 3 with 2:04 remaining to push MSU ahead 48-46. The Bears never relinquished their lead despite Lofton cutting it to 50-48 with 11 seconds to play.

Illinois State bows out of the MVC tournament, while MSU will face Wichita State Saturday in the semifinals.

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Statistics: ISU-Missouri State  (PDF)

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]