WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. – With a potential No. 1 national ranking on the line, the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team stated its case for the honor Saturday night, Jan. 29, in West Memphis, Ark., with an 88-46 victory over Mid-South Community College.

The win upped the Grizzlies’ overall season record to 22-2.
“Once our team knew that No. 1 in the nation was most likely on the line, their focus was outstanding,” head coach Yancey Walker said.

The Grizzlies are ranked second in the most recent Division I men’s poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), but they could move up to No. 1 this week, thanks to their wins Saturday and on Tuesday, Jan. 25, over State Fair Community College of Sedalia, Mo., and the 81-84 loss by current No. 1 Connors State College of Warner, Okla., to Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa on Thursday, Jan. 27.  The new poll will be released Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 1.

“Saturday’s game could have very easily been a trap game, since we were coming off two very draining and emotional Region 16 games,” Walker said, “but our guys came out with a purpose, and it showed.  We let them get some shots off that maybe should have gone in, but every shot that Mid-South took was contested.  I was pleased with that.”

A key to the Grizzlies’ success against Mid-South came on the boards, Walker said.  “Our rebounding took a step forward with 45 overall and 12 offensive.  That was a good sign,” he explained.

Overall, the Grizzlies connected on 32 of 69 shots from the field for 46 percent and 13 of 30 shots from three-point range for 43 percent.  Sophomore Quinton Pippen led the team on the scoreboard with 35 points, which included points from eight successful three-pointers on 10 attempts for the evening.  Demetrice Jacobs added 13 points, and Travis Wilkins added 10.
Mid-South hit 16 of 68 shots from the field for 24 percent and five of 27 three pointers for 19 percent.  Joshua Walker led Mid-South in scoring with 10 points.

Weather permitting, the Grizzlies are scheduled to host Region 16 rival Mineral Area College, Park Hills, Mo., in a 7 p.m. game Tuesday, Feb. 1, at the West Plains Civic Center.  On Saturday, Feb. 5, they will travel to Moberly, Mo., for a 7:30 p.m. contest against another Region 16 team, Moberly Area Community College.

“We are now in the home stretch and every game is magnified from here on out,” Walker said.  “Our home crowds have been outstanding so far, and I want to invite everyone to come to the game Tuesday.”

For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website at http://www.wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/bb.htm or call the Grizzly Basketball office at 417-255-7993.