Solid Second Half Sends Bears to 73-63 Win at Saint Louis

The win gave Missouri State a 10-0 record for the first time since 1996-97 and just the second time in its Division I era.

Mallett's point output was a career best as the Bears improved their overall lead in the series against SLU to 16-7.

After holding a narrow 31-28 lead at the half, the Bears stormed out of the locker room with a 10-2 run to start the second half and quickly gain an 11-point advantage less than four minutes into the second period.

The Bears improved their lead to 13 with 10:12 to play on a three-pointer by Adam Leonard, his second of the game, to pull ahead 51-38. However, the Billikens (7-4) used a flurry of three-pointers that began at the 9:47 mark to pull within 53-49 at the 7:09 mark on Christian Salecich's second three of the half.

The Bears retaliated with a pair of jumpers by Adam Leonard and one by Caleb Patterson and regained a double-figure lead, 59-49 with 5:44 to play. Clutch free throw shooting down the stretch secured the win, Missouri State's ninth by a double-figure margin.

Cuonzo Martin's team made 26-of-30 (.867) free throws in the game and fired at a 52.2-percent clip in the second half to finish 22-for-50 (.440).

Weems added 11 for the Bears to extend his double-figure scoring streak to 11 straight games, while Will Creekmore scored 10, including 4-of-4 from the line.

Saint Louis was led by Willie Reed's 19 points, while Salecich and Justin Jordan contributed 15 apiece. The Billikens were 20-for-51 (.392) from the field and 18-of-23 (.783) at the line.

Missouri State closes out its non-conference schedule Tuesday at Arkansas (6-5) for a 7:05 p.m. start.

In the first half, the Bears were able to convert 9-of-11 free throws to help overcome a poor shooting performance, making just 10-of-27 (.370) from the field and just 2-of-11 (.182) from three-point range.

The Bears fought off a brief Billikens' 12-11 lead at the 12:12 mark with a 12-4 run that included buckets by Weems, Mallett and Leonard and eventually led 31-28 at the break.

Missouri State's best-ever season starts:

• 1948-49 - 21-0
• 1957-58 - 19-0
• 1950-51 - 13-0
• 1947-48 - 12-0
• 1958-59 - 12-0
• 1949-50 - 10-0
• 1996-97 - 10-0

Missouri State Basketball Guide

Downloadable Version 2009-10 Basketball Guide

SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State University has finalized its 2009-10 men's basketball non-conference schedule, a slate that includes 19 home games at JQH Arena, including a pair of preseason exhibition contests in early November.

  The Bears will host the University of Missouri-St. Louis on November 2, and Henderson State on November 10 in its two exhibition games. The team then opens the regular season schedule with five straight home games at its 11,000-seat home facility, JQH Arena.

  The 2009-10 season opener will be on Monday, November 16 against Auburn, followed by three additional home games in the Hispanic College Fund Challenge, November 20-22, and a home date with Tulsa on November 28. The home tourney features Maryland-Eastern Shore, The Citadel and Eastern Michigan in a three-day, round-robin format.

  Following the five home games to start the season, the Bears travel to Arkansas-Little Rock on December 2, and then return to JQH Arena on December 5 to play Air Force in the inaugural Missouri Valley / Mountain West Challenge Series. The Bears continue the home stand on December 9 when they host UT Martin in the return game from last season's ESPNU BracketBusters.

  The team's longest road swing of the season takes place in the middle of December as second-year head coach Cuonzo Martin takes his troops to Arkansas State on December 12, before renewing the school's rivalry with St. Louis University on December 19 and closing out the three-game tilt at Arkansas on December 22.

  "It's a great schedule, and we certainly look forward to playing some excellent competition," said Martin whose 2009-10 squad features three returning starters and six newcomers. "As a player, this is the type of schedule you want to play: with teams like Auburn and Arkansas from the SEC, a tough home tournament that will push us for three straight days, some quality home games for our fans, and some good tests on the road. This is the type of schedule, with postseason-caliber opponents, to get a team ready for the conference season, and we're very happy with it."

  Including Missouri Valley Conference foes, the Bears' 2009-10 slate features 11 teams that appeared in one of the four postseason basketball events last season. Northern Iowa is the only NCAA tournament team on the slate, while five opponents played in the National Invitation Tournament, including quarterfinalist Auburn, second-round advancers Tulsa and Creighton, as well as UT Martin and Illinois State. Making the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament were Evansville, Drake, Citadel and Bradley, while Wichita State played in the College Basketball Invitational.

  The MVC schedule is expected to be released within the next two weeks and will include a home-and-home series with the other nine league foes. The Bears' final non-conference contest will be on Saturday, February 20 with a home game in the annual ESPNU BracketBusters series. The 2009-10 State Farm MVC Tournament will take place at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, March 4-7.

2009-10 Missouri State Non-Conference Schedule

  2009-10 Bears season tickets are available now by calling (417) 836-7678 or (888) 476-7849. When available, individual game tickets can be purchased on-line at www.MissouriStateTix.com, while team news, stats, updates, and ticket specials are available at www.MissouriStateBears.com, the official web site of Missouri State athletics.

The countdown to the 2009-10 basketball season is underway, and Missouri State fans will have their first opportunity to meet the Bears and Lady Bears on Saturday, October 24 at JQH Arena for the annual Basketball Sneak Preview, presented by Ashley Furniture Homestores.

Doors to JQH Arena will open at 5:30 p.m. for a night of basketball activities, games and entertainment.

At 7 p.m., both teams will be introduced, the players will participate in skills competitions, and Lady Bears' head coach Nyla Milleson will address the crowd before her team hits the floor for a five-minute warm-up and 10-minute scrimmage.  Afterwards, Bears' head coach Cuonzo Martin will have his turn on the microphone before his team warms up and participates in a similar 10-minute scrimmage.

The evening will conclude with autograph stations, presented by AT&T Real Yellow Pages, in the JQH concourse along with free team photos, posters, and schedule cards.

Both teams will conduct their first official practice of the season on Friday, October 16 in separate closed sessions. The first exhibition games are November 1 for the Lady Bears against Missouri Western and November 2 for the Bears against Missouri-St. Louis.

Season ticket information, including the family plan package, is available now by calling (417) 836-7678. Current season ticket holders may pick up their 2009-10 tickets in the PRIME Overtime Club at JQH Arena on Sneak Preview Night.

Basketball Sneak Preview Order of Events

5:30 p.m. - JQH Arena Doors Open

7:00 p.m. - Lights Out & Spotlights On