(Kansas City, MO) – Missouri State is not quite ready for prime time, but they show flashes of being good enough to compete at a high level. With 13:14 left the Bears were down just nine points (52-43) to 24thranked Nebraska, but fell to the taller, deeper and more athletic Cornhuskers by a final score of 85-62.
Nebraska humbled the hard-working Bears by repeatedly turning over the less experienced Bears. Missouri State committed 18 turnovers, many of which coach Dana Ford called ‘soft’.
There were bright spots. The Bears (3-1) actually outrebounded the Huskers (38-34) and Keandre Cook showed he can score against one of the best defensive teams in the country. The junior transfer turned in his third straight 20-point performance (22 points) and relentlessly attacked the basket. Cook took six of the teams nine total free throw attempts.
Obediah Church grabbed ten rebounds and Jarred Dixon added 12 points.
Coach Ford says playing high-level competition in an event like the Hall of Fame Classic will help his team season and in years to come.
Turnovers were a problem for the second straight game. After 17 miscues against Stetson, the 18 against the Huskers truly bothered Ford. He said a number of them fell into the ‘soft’ category. Ford has he has to take some blame for his team being not quite ready. After enduring his first loss as MSU’s coach, Ford says there are three ways to make turnovers.
Ford’s squad gets another crack at a ‘power 5’ team on Tuesday night.
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Flooding, lightning strikes, etc. have cost @RacersHoops two home games. Had to play 'neutral site' tonight instead of at home and Wednesday's goes from home to away. Tough break for the Racers, and the whole area has been hit with difficulties. #FatherHarry
Murray State's scheduled home game Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois being moved to Banterra Center in Carbondale. #ValleyHoops
Gigantic game for @BradleyUMBB today in Des Moines. If they have a chance to catch @DrakeBulldogsMB, they have to win today. The Bulldogs can basically win the title today. @BustingBrackets breaks it all down. #FatherHarry https://bit.ly/3EGiVgi
Not rooting for any particular @ValleyHoops, but chaos is always fun. If things break certain ways, after today there could be a six-way tie for fifth place.
Fun to listen to @MLBLarry on the @SIU_Basketball/@BelmontMBB game tonight. Good job brother. #FatherHarry
