Date: January 26, 2009
Contact: Yancey Walker, Head Coach
Grizzly Basketball Office
417-255-7993

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Despite a “good effort,” the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team came up short in its annual homecoming game Saturday night, Jan. 24, at the West Plains Civic Center arena.

The Grizzlies (11-10) overcame an early double-digit deficit before falling to Region 16 arch rival Three Rivers Community College, Poplar Bluff, 74-65.

“I really felt our effort was good enough for the win.  We just came up a little short,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Yancey Walker said.  “We fought very hard and gave ourselves a chance to win.  I’m proud of our guys’ effort.”

The Three Rivers Raiders jumped out early on the Grizzlies and held an 11-point advantage early in the first half, but the Grizzlies battled back and cut the Raiders’ lead to 6, 31-25, at the halftime break.  The teams played a close game in the second half, with the Raiders outscoring the Grizzlies 43-40 in the final period.

A big key to the loss came at the charity stripe, where the Raiders were give 36 opportunities for free throws while the Grizzlies only had 18.  The Raiders made 26 of those shots for 72 percent, and the Grizzlies hit 14 of their attempts for 77 percent.

“To have your opponent go to the line twice as much as you and to still have a chance to win the game in the last minute, that says a lot about our team,” Walker said.  “I was happy with everyone’s effort and contributions in the game.”

The Grizzlies were led by freshman Terrell Bruce, who scored 16 points and was three of four from the three-point line.  “Terrell played a great game,” Walker said.  “He took good shots and hit most of them.”  Bruce was followed on the scoreboard by sophomore Devon Peltier with 12, freshman Xavier Jones 10, sophomore Anthony Allison and freshman Taylor Jones with 8 each, sophomore Logan Nutt 5, freshman Rae-Vonn Banks 4, and sophomore Chris Williams 2.

“Logan was perfect from the field, and Taylor was three of five from the field and two of four from the three-point line,” Walker noted.  “And Rae-Vonn came in and did a good job with his minutes.  We relied on some people who stepped up to give us good minutes, both off the bench and as starters.”

The Raiders were led by Jeremy Mars with 19 points, Ken Bingham with 16 and Marquise Carter 10.

Walker said he would like to thank CenturyTel for sponsoring the game.

The Grizzlies will take the court next at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, when they host the State Fair Community College Roadrunners from Sedalia at the civic center arena in another key Region 16 contest.

For more information about the Grizzly Basketball team, visit the Grizzly Basketball Web site at http://www.wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/bb.htm.