Date: January 30, 2009
Contact: Yancey Walker, Head Coach
Grizzly Basketball Office
417-255-7993

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team’s season record now stands at 11-11 after a 65-53 loss to Arkansas Baptist College Thursday night, Jan. 29, in Little Rock, Ark.

“We just didn’t play well,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Yancey Walker said.  “We knew going in it was going to be a tough game.  Arkansas Baptist, a four-year school, is always a hard place to play.  Last night, we jumped out early and had a chance.  We didn’t have a lot of bad shots, we just missed a lot of good shots.  And, without Anthony Allison, who has the flu and didn’t make the trip, we didn’t have enough juice.  It threw a wrench in the lineup.”

Leading scorer for the Grizzlies was sophomore Devon Peltier, who snared 16 points.  Sophomore Chris Williams followed with 12, freshman Xavier Jones 10, sophomore Youri Anissovets 6, and sophomore Logan Nutt and freshmen Terrell Bruce and Taylor Jones each with 3.  Walker praised Anissovets and Williams, saying both played well.  “Youri played one of his best games,” the coach added.

The Grizzlies will return to Region 16 action Tuesday, Feb. 3, when they host Mineral Area College of Park Hills, Mo., in a 7 p.m. contest at the West Plains Civic Center arena.  To prepare for the game, Walker said the Grizzlies will focus on “improvement in the areas of fighting through adversity.  They have to keep getting better to win those tough games.  We’re still sharing the ball well, but we have to make the plays when it is time to get over the hump and fight to win those close games.  It’s not always about the scoring play.  Sometimes, it is the hustle, keeping the ball alive, diving out of bounds to keep the ball in play.”

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