Trying to Build Momentum

Missouri State Hosts Northern Iowa

(St. Louis, MO) – When Missouri State hosts Northern Iowa Wednesday night, it is a game between two teams trying to build momentum. Last time out the Bears (1-11) won their first conference game. Northern Iowa rebounded from a one-sided loss to Drake with perhaps their best performance of the season against Bradley.

UNI (14-9, 8-4) won the earlier meeting between the two teams and the Panthers have won four straight and seven of the last eight games against Missouri State.

While the Bears are trying to fight their way to respectability, the Panthers are looking to earn a first-round bye at the Missouri Valley Conference postseason tournament.

Missouri State’s weekend win over Murray State snapped a ten-game losing streak. Two of those losses required overtime and one game was a one-point loss to Valparaiso. The Bears are no pushovers.

The teams tip at 6:00 pm. It is the first game of the Valley’s Wednesday night double header on Gray Media television stations (Matrix Midwest in St. Louis).

Last Time Out

The Bears’ breakthrough win was something of a relief for the program and head coach Cuonzo Martin, who says his players are learning ‘how to win’. Martin mentions that there are times when players second guess themselves and hinder winning by worrying about too many things.

Martin is in his second tour of duty in Springfield, Missouri and he says his team’s hard-working reputation stems from the way he is wired.

Northern Iowa scored just 52 points against Drake and head coach Ben Jacobson was curious about his team’s offensive confidence and approach taking on a very good Bradley team. The Panthers scored 83 points, handed out nineteen assists and converting 46 percent from long range.

Jacobson says his team competed at a high level for the entire game.

UNI trails Bradley (9-3) and Drake (10-2) in the Valley race. Belmont and Illinois Chicago are one game back at 7-5. It is essential for a team trying to build momentum to pick up a second straight win.

Emerging Freshmen

Missouri State’s Zaxton King is one of four Bears averaging double-digits in scoring. King (10.1 ppg and 2.9 rebounds per game) is the Valley’s third leading freshman scorer behind Evansville’s Gabriel Pozzato (16.2 ppg) and Valparaiso’s All Wright (12.2). The Bear’s rookie scored 17 points against the Panthers and 19 during their victory over Murray State.

Martin says King has gone through some typical freshmen challenges and the Lawrence, Kansas native is playing better now that he doesn’t have to play point guard.

UNI’s top rookie is center Will Hornseth. The 6’8 Wisconsin native has been a solid replacement for starter Jacob Hutson. Hornseth is averaging 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in his support role.

Coach Jacobson says Hornseth has all the tools to be a very good college basketball player.

Wright and Pozzato have each won three, ‘Freshman of the Week’ awards and Bradley’s Jaquan Johnson earned that notation twice. King is a one time award winner.

Trying to Build Momentum – The Matchup

Northern Iowa is the Valley’s top field goal shooting team (.498) and the second best defensive squad (67.7 points allowed per game). Missouri State is second to Drake among Valley teams, averaging 7.5 steals per game.

Transfers Dez White (15.2) and Vincent Brady (13.1) lead the Bears in scoring and transfer post player Michael Osei-Bonsu is the conference’s second leading rebounder (7.4).

UNI will be playing its second game without starting forward Leon Bond III. His injured knee could end his season. Fifth year wing Tytan Anderson is the Valley’s tenth leading scorer (14.8) and sixth leading rebounder (6.5). Hutson (11.7) and Trey Campbell (10.5) are double-digit scorers.

Jacobson says the Bears are a team that plays extremely hard. He believes Missouri State and coach Martin present a formidable foe on Wednesday.

Martin has great respect for Jacobson. He says the 19-year veteran works side-line magic and the Panthers run exceptional offensive sets. Martin says the Panthers are a very talented team.

These two veteran coaches are trying to build momentum and Wednesday night’s game will be the first step forward for one these programs.

Bradley and Belmont play the second game of the Gray Media TV double-header. That game tips at 8:00 pm.

Do Good

Editor: Cover photo of Zaxton King, courtesy of missouristatebears.com.