Date: December 12, 2008
Contact: Yancey Walker, Head Coach
Grizzly Basketball Office
417-255-7993

    WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly basketball team didn’t get the early Christmas present they were hoping for Thursday night, Dec. 11, in the first night of the Grizzly Holiday Classic at the West Plains Civic Center.
    Instead of a tournament-opening win, the Grizzlies (8-6) fell to Redlands Community College of El Reno, Okla., 79-70.
    The Cougars proved to be more accurate than the Grizzlies from the field, hitting 65 percent of their field goals for the night compared to the Grizzlies’ 40 percent.  Statistics show the Cougars controlled the paint, scoring 64 points to the Grizzlies’ 36 around the basket, and they outrebounded the Grizzlies 31-24.
    The Grizzlies kept the score close in the first half, ending the period just a point behind the Cougars, 36-37, at halftime, thanks to hitting four of eight treys.  But the Grizzlies’ perimeter game went cold in the second half, as their three-point accuracy fell to just 18 percent in the second half.  The Cougars, on the other hand, increased their efficiency from the field and outscored the Grizzlies 42-34 in the second period.
    Sophomore guard Devon Peltier led Missouri State-West Plains’ scoring efforts with 28 points, hitting nine of 14 from the field, three of six from three-point range and seven of seven from the charity stripe.  Sophomore point guard Anthony Allison followed with 11 points, connecting on four of 12 attempts from the field, two of three shots from three-point range and one of one from the free throw line.
    Other Grizzlies scoring were freshmen Rae-Vonn Banks and Terrell Bruce, each with 8 points, freshman Ivan Gombovic with 7, freshman Xavier Jones 6, and sophomore Logan Nutt 2.
    Three Cougars scored in double figures.  They were Marvin Roberts with 21, Antoine Watson 20 and Vincent Talbort 10.
    Prior to the Grizzlies’ game, Shorter College of Little Rock, Ark., met Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College in the tournament’s opening game.  Fort Scott won the contest 76-56.
    The tournament continues tonight with Redlands playing Fort Scott at 5 p.m. and the Grizzlies facing Shorter at 7.  Saturday, Shorter and Redlands will play at 5 p.m., and the Grizzlies and Fort Scott will play at 7.
    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.