Date: November 3, 2008
Contact: Yancey Walker, Head Coach
Grizzly Basketball Office
417-255-7993

    MOBERLY, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team opened its 2008-09 season with a win and a loss at the Moberly Area Community College Classic Tournament in Moberly, Mo.
    On Friday, Oct. 31, the Grizzlies fell to Mesa (Ariz.) Community College 59-65, but they bounced back on Saturday, Nov. 1, and defeated Simmons College of Kentucky 54-50.
    “I felt our defense was pretty good.  It’s a lot further ahead than our offense,” Grizzly Head Coach Yancey Walker said.  “I know that sounds odd when we gave up 38 points in the first half against Mesa, but when we were five-on-five at half court, we did very well.  We held them scoreless for 10 minutes in the second half, and we held Simmons to just 50 points after they scored 67 against Moberly the night before.  Great teams are built on defense.  We just need to get our offense caught up.  We’ll be fine.”
    The Grizzlies were down 22-38 against Mesa at halftime, but the strong defensive effort in the second half allowed the Grizzlies to pull within 3 points of Mesa in the second half before losing.  Against Simmons, the Grizzlies were up 26-17 at halftime.
    “Our offense was a little out of sync all weekend,” Walker said.  “We did not adjust to the way the officials were calling the game Friday night until the second half.  In the second, we began making plays, and we got a lift from both Devon Atkinson and Rae-Vonn Banks.  They gave us great energy and a defensive lift in the second half.”
    Banks, a freshman forward, had 8 points and four rebounds, according to unofficial statistics, and Atkinson, a freshman guard, had 2 points.  Sophomore point guard Anthony Allison led the team in scoring with 14 points, followed by sophomore guard Devon Peltier with 13.  Sophomore center Chris Williams pumped in 11 points and co-led the team in rebounds with eight.
    “Chris and Ivan Gombovic really controlled the defensive boards,” Walker said.  Gombovic, a freshman forward, also had eight rebounds against Mesa.
    Other Grizzlies scoring against Mesa were sophomore guard Logan Nutt with 5, freshman guard Taylor Jones with 4 and freshman forward Terrell Bruce with 2.  Bruce also had two rebounds.
    Although the Grizzlies controlled the game against Simmons, they never put the team away.  “We had a couple of chances to put them away, but we never really hit our stride offensively,” Walker explained.  “We worked on that yesterday (Sunday) in practice, and we’ll work on it again today.  Once we do hit our stride, we will be in good shape.”
    Williams recorded his first double double with career high tallies of 16 points and 18 rebounds against Simmons on Saturday.  “Chris had a good weekend on the glass and in scoring,” Walker said.  “For us to be successful, he needs to put up numbers like that every night.”
    Peltier scored 13 points against Simmons, including three treys, and Allison had 12 points.  Banks recorded 7 points and eight rebounds, Gombovic had 3 points and six rebounds, and Bruce had 3 points and one rebound.
    Walker said opening the season at the Moberly tournament was good for the Grizzlies.  “We got to play in their gym and make that long trip before the actual region games begin.  Now we’ll know what to expect when we go there for the region game,” he said.
    He also said he wanted to dedicate this past weekend’s win against Simmons to the Lady Monarchs.  “I share this with them,” he said.
    The Grizzlies will open their home season this weekend by hosting the Ozarks Medical Center Tip-Off Tournament at the West Plains Civic Center.  The tournament schedule has the Grizzlies facing Olney (Ill.) Central College at 7 p.m. Thursday, Mid-America Nazarene University’s junior varsity squad from Olathe, Kan., at 7 p.m. Friday, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) at 7 p.m. Saturday.  Early games will pit Olney against NEO at 5 p.m. Friday and Olney against Mid-America Nazarene at 5 p.m. Saturday.
    “I’m looking forward to getting out on our own floor and seeing what we can do,” Walker said.
    He also reminded there will be a Grizzly Pep Rally at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the civic center for all Grizzly fans.  Pizza, lemonade and ice cream will be served; admission is free.
    For more information about the Grizzly Basketball team or for complete game statistics, visit the Grizzly Basketball Web site at http://www.wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/bb.htm.