WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team will try to add to it’s three-game winning streak Tuesday, Feb. 9, when they face Region 16 foe State Fair Community College from Sedalia in Joe Paul Evans Arena at the West Plains Civic Center. Tip-off will be 7 p.m.
The Grizzlies enter Tuesday’s contest after defeating College of Faith from West Memphis, Arkansas, 90-69 Saturday, Feb. 6, in Joe Paul Evans Arena.
“We did a good job of keeping our focus for most of the game,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Yancey Walker said of Saturday’s win. “There were times that we weren’t quite as in tune as we needed to be. To start the game, we really moved the ball well against their zone. That led to some very good looks to start the game. They then went man, and it almost seemed to keep the ball from moving, which is usually the opposite.”
That was evident in the scoring by halves. In the first half, the Grizzlies out-scored College of Faith 42-22, but in the second, the Grizzlies netted 48 points to the opponents 47.
Game statistics show the Grizzlies hit 34 of 72 shots from the field for 47.2 percent, 10 of 26 shots from 3-point range for 38.5 percent and 12 of 15 shots from the charity stripe for 80 percent. They also had 41 rebounds, 23 assists, 16 turnovers and nine steals. Leading scorers were sophomore forward Ngor Barnaba and freshman forward Mike Parks, Jr., each with 16 points; freshman forward Devonte Campbell 15 points; and freshman guards Juwan Green and Vonny Irvin with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
College of Faith hit 29 of 69 shots from the field for 42 percent, four of 19 3-point attempts for 21.1 percent, and seven of 11 free throw attempts for 63.6 percent. The team also recorded 32 rebounds 16 assists, 17 turnovers five blocks and 10 steals. Leading scorers were Mike Campbell with 24 points, Bouna Nnang 16, Elarby Sall 13 and Erik Stuckey 11.
Following Tuesday’s contest, the Grizzlies will have two games remaining on their regular season schedule, and both will be played at the civic center. On Feb. 15, the Grizzlies will host Faith Preparatory Academy, also from West Memphis, Arkansas, and Feb. 19 they will play Region 16 rival Moberly Area Community College from Moberly. The team’s sophomores will be honored at this game.
“We have a huge game Tuesday,” Walker said. “State Fair is coming off a huge win at Three Rivers College, so they will be playing with some confidence. We played them to three at their place, so we are capable, but we have to focus and execute.”
For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website or call the Grizzly Basketball office at 417-255-7993. Complete game statistics can be found here.