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THE 2017-18 GRIZZLY BASKETBALL team at Missouri State University-West Plains includes, front row from left, Erik Nvagbara, Kharkiv, Ukraine; Nieke Thomas, Springfield; Johde Campbell, Leicester, England; Ricky Torres, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Radshad Davis, Nassau, Bahamas; Terrell Whitaker, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Montel Stewart, Palm Bay, Fla.; and Eric Lovett, Union City, Ga. Second row: Evan White, Florissant; managers Marcus Golden and Eric Stafford, both of St. Louis; Head Coach Chris Popp; managers Jordan Cook, St. Louis, and Bennett Sandwell, Springfield; and Derrick Roberson, Springfield. Back row: Mykyta Drugachonok, Odessa, Ukraine; Yannis Mendy, Metting, France; Leo Kontopoulos, Frankfurt, Germany; Greyson Smallwood, Portland, Ore.; Dontell Brown, Lexington, Ky.; Kenyon Stone, Bowie, Md.; and Burone Edwards, San Antonio, Texas. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)
THE 2017-18 GRIZZLY BASKETBALL team at Missouri State University-West Plains includes, front row from left, Erik Nvagbara, Kharkiv, Ukraine; Nieke Thomas, Springfield; Johde Campbell, Leicester, England; Ricky Torres, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Radshad Davis, Nassau, Bahamas; Terrell Whitaker, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Montel Stewart, Palm Bay, Fla.; and Eric Lovett, Union City, Ga. Second row: Evan White, Florissant; managers Marcus Golden and Eric Stafford, both of St. Louis; Head Coach Chris Popp; managers Jordan Cook, St. Louis, and Bennett Sandwell, Springfield; and Derrick Roberson, Springfield. Back row: Mykyta Drugachonok, Odessa, Ukraine; Yannis Mendy, Metting, France; Leo Kontopoulos, Frankfurt, Germany; Greyson Smallwood, Portland, Ore.; Dontell Brown, Lexington, Ky.; Kenyon Stone, Bowie, Md.; and Burone Edwards, San Antonio, Texas. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

Grizzlies remain undefeated with win over Link Year Prep

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team kept its unblemished record in tact Tuesday night, Nov. 14, with a 98-65 victory over Link Year Prep of Branson at the West Plains Civic Center arena.

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WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team kept its unblemished record in tact Tuesday night, Nov. 14, with a 98-65 victory over Link Year Prep of Branson at the West Plains Civic Center arena.

“Link Year has some legitimate talent,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Chris Popp said. “It could have been a dangerous game had we not had the right mentality from the start. Our guys came out with the mentality to get better, and that’s what it’s going to take to get where we want to be.”

SCORING LEADERS

Five Grizzlies scored in double figures. Sophomore point guard Ricky Torres led the way with 18 points and 12 assists. He was followed by redshirt freshman guard Radshad Davis and sophomore forward Yannis Mendy with 16 points each, freshman point guard Johde Campbell with 13 and freshman guard Eric Lovett with 12.

“Ricky, Radshad and Yannis once again led the way. They have game in and game out. They’re the three we’re counting on to do that consistently,” Popp said.

The Grizzlies jumped out on the Lions early and never looked back, going into the halftime break with a 57-25 advantage.

“We were efficient. We shot 50 percent from the floor,” the coach pointed out. The Grizzlies also hit 47.1 percent of their 3-point shots and 66.7 percent of their free throws.

NORTH ARKANSAS TOURNEY

The Grizzlies will go into this weekend’s North Arkansas College Pioneer Classic in Harrison, Arkansas, with a 6-0 record. They will face Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley of Kansas City at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, and Little Priest Tribal College of Winnebego, Nebraska, at noon Saturday.

“We’ve got a good one on Friday. Penn Valley has beaten a couple of very good teams. They’re older and have a lot of experience back. They also received votes in the preseason poll,” the coach pointed out.

HOME GAMES

The Grizzlies’ next home game Tuesday, Nov. 21, when they meet Arkansas Baptist College from Little Rock at 7 p.m. at the civic center. “Arkansas Baptist is another very good team. They’re athletic and play very hard. It will be a challenge.”

Popp also pointed out that long-time Grizzly Booster club members and program supporters Dale and Carolyn Smith of West Plains will be receiving the Grizzly Track Award at halftime. The award honors extraordinary support given by individuals or organizations on behalf of Grizzly Athletics.

And, Popp reminded fans to begin gathering their stuffed toys for the annual Toy Toss event Dec. 9 during the Grizzlies’ home game against Iowa Western Community College from Council Bluffs. “Our Toy Toss is in full swing. Area schools are already collecting toys,” he pointed out.

For complete statistics of the Grizzlies’ games this season, visit http://stats.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/div1/teams/missouristateuniversitywestplains. For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website or call 417-255-7991.

Stay up to date with Grizzly Athletics and Grizzly Booster Club news by signing up for text alerts at http://remind.com/join/wpgrizz or text “@WPGrizz to 81010.