WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team started 2015 with a 1-1 record in the Grizzly New Year’s Classic Friday and Saturday, Jan. 2 and 3, in Joe Paul Evans Arena at the West Plains Civic Center.
The Grizzlies, now 13-6, lost to Redlands Community College, El Reno, Oklahoma, 71-58 Friday night, but bounced back to defeat the 10th ranked junior college team in the nation, Coffeyville Community College, Coffeyville, Kansas, 87-84 in a thrilling overtime contest.
The Grizzlies next will host Eastern Oklahoma State College, Wilburton, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, in Joe Paul Evans Arena.
As one might expect after a two-week break, the Grizzlies were a little rusty when they got back on the court Friday night. “This game was simply ugly. It looked like a typical first game back after Christmas break,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Yancey Walker said. “We couldn’t guard the basketball, and our help seemed to be late for most of the game.”
Although down 46-36 at halftime, the Grizzlies did have their chances in the second half. “We said that if we could get their lead down to 7 points by the five-minute mark, we’d be within striking distance. We were on schedule to do that, and then starting at the 6:05 mark, we proceeded to give up three straight offensive rebounds and not score for five minutes. We had our chances to take control, but we didn’t accomplish that,” Walker said.
Adding to the Grizzlies’ frustrations were an inability to score in transition and inopportune turnovers. “It had the feel of a rough night when we couldn’t get transition baskets and all of our sure-handed guys were turning it over in situations when they normally don’t,” Walker said.
“Our biggest problem was that they got the ball to the paint, and we settled for too many jump shots,” he added. Redlands outscored the Grizzlies 32-22 in the paint. “Also, one of our strengths has been free throw shooting, and we only got to the line nine times for the entire game,” he added.
Overall, the Grizzlies hit 21 of 58 shots from the field for 36.2 percent, eight of 25 from 3-point range for 32 percent and eight of nine from the free throw line for 88.9 percent. The also collected 23 rebounds, 13 assists and 14 turnovers. Leading scorers were freshman guard Dazhonetae Bennett with 17 points, and sophomore guards Craig Eubanks and Jameel Moore each with 11.
Redlands connected on 29 of 65 shots from the field for 44.6 percent, nine of 19 3-point attempts for 47.4 percent and four of six free throw attempts for 66.7 percent. The team also collected 40 rebounds, 17 assists and 20 turnovers. Leading scorers were Isiah Wilson, 11 points; and Marcelious Greet and Ethan Telfair, each with 10 points.
Fortunately, the rustiness wore off just in time for the Grizzlies to give their fans one of their best games of the season Saturday against Coffeyville. “This was a great game to watch as a fan,” Walker said. “Both teams played hard and gave all they had. This game had it all.”
The Grizzlies scored the first two points of the game and continued to lead the Ravens throughout much of the first half. The Ravens finally tied the game at 37-37 at the 3:22 mark and went into the halftime break with a 48-44 lead. The Grizzlies regained the lead about midway through the second half, and the game remained a close battle until the Ravens canned two 3-pointers in the last 20 seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime with the score knotted at 72-72.
The Grizzlies struck first in overtime with a 3-point shot by freshman forward Ngor Barnaba, but the Ravens kept the contest close and took a brief 84-83 lead with about 1:40 remaining. The Grizzlies answered, though, with four straight free throws from Eubanks, giving the Grizzlies their final margin of victory.
“Outside of their 22-9 run to end the first half, I felt like we controlled most of the game,” Walker said. “Our defense really shut them down in the second half, but to their credit, they kept competing, as well. We made enough of the right plays to win down the stretch, and then when they fouled, we made our free throws. We also did a much better job attacking in the paint against Coffeyville, but we gave up too many second chance points.”
The Grizzlies held the Ravens to just 21.2 percent in shooting from the field during the second half, and although they outscored the Ravens 42-26 in the paint, they gave up 20 second chance points to the Ravens while only canning 12 second chance points of their own.
Overall, the Grizzlies hit 30 of 60 shots from the field for 50 percent, eight of 19 attempts from 3-point range for 42.1 percent and 19 of 24 attempts from the free throw line for 79.2 percent. They also collected 32 rebounds, 19 assists and 13 turnovers.
Eubanks and freshman forward Terrel Martin-Garcia turned in double-double performances during the contest. Eubanks had 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Martin-Garcia had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Moore led the Grizzlies on the scoreboard with 21 points. Barnaba added 14 and Bennett 12.
The Ravens hit 28 of 74 shots from the field for 37.8 percent, 14 of 32 attempts from 3-point range for 43,8 percent and 14 of 23 free throw attempts for 60.9 percent. They also collected 35 rebounds, 15 assists and 13 turnovers. Leading scorers were Darrion Strong with 31 points and Lionel Ellison with 12.
“This was a tremendous win for our team,” Walker said. “It would not surprise me to see Coffeyville win the majority of, if not all of, their regular season games and make a deep run into their region tournament.”
In the other tournament games, Coffeyville defeated College of Faith, West Memphis, Arkansas, 94-72 Friday night, and Redlands downed College of Faith 107-97 Saturday night.
Walker also thanked the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety for sponsoring the tournament. “They always do an outstanding job educating us on being safe when we travel,” he said.
For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website at http://wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/bb.htm or call the Grizzly Basketball office at 417-255-7993. Complete game statistics can be found at http://stats.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/div1/teams/missouristateuniversitywestplains.