Date: February 23, 2009
Contact: Yancey Walker, Head Coach
Grizzly Basketball Office
417-255-7993

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – A tough defensive effort in the second half helped the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team exact a little revenge on Arkansas Baptist College Saturday night, Feb. 21, at the West Plains Civic Center.

The Grizzlies, who lost to the Little Rock, Ark., team on Jan. 29, eked out 75-72 victory at home.  Missouri State-West Plains is now 13-15 on the year.

“Our team really responded defensively in the second half,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Yancey Walker said.  “We held them to 35 percent shooting from the field, only allowing 27 points.  We also did a good job controlling the boards.  (Freshman) Ivan Gombovic had 20 rebounds for the game.”

The Grizzlies fell behind in the first half, 45-41, by allowing Arkansas Baptist to hit 53 percent of its shots from the field while only hitting 43.8 percent of their own.  That changed in the second half when the team’s defense kicked into high gear.  They also got some key plays by several team members.

“We had different people step up when we needed it,” Walker said.  “(Freshman) Taylor Jones hit a big shot, VI (sophomore Devon Peltier) hit a big three, and (sophomore) Logan Nutt and Ivan both had seven assists.  It was a total team effort.

Peltier led all scorers with 19 points, and Gombovic had a double-double with his 20 rebounds and 16 points.  Other Grizzlies scoring were Nutt with 9, freshman Terrell Bruce and Jones both with 8, freshman Xavier Jones 7, sophomore Youri Anissovets 6, and sophomore Anthony Allison 2.

Arkansas Baptist’s leading scorers were Robert Malone with 12 points, Josh Smith 11, and James Scott and Tyrell Coleman each with 10.

For the game, the Grizzlies shot 45.6 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from the three-point line and 51.9 percent from the free throw line.  Arkansas Baptist hit 44.8 percent of its field goals, 50 percent of its three-pointers, and 68.2 percent of its free throws during the game.

The Grizzlies out-rebounded Arkansas Baptist 37 to 26 and had a total of 16 assists, three blocks and four steals.

The last home game of the season for the Grizzlies will take place tonight at 7 when they host the junior varsity squad from Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Ark., in the civic center arena.  The game will be sponsored by West Vue Retirement Community.

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