SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State dropped in a Missouri Valley Conference record 21 3-pointers and dished out 24 assists to turn back visiting Evangel University, 103-56, here Thursday in the non-conference finale for the Bears (9-5).
Isiaih Mosley and Jaylen Minnett scored 22 points apiece to lead Missouri State, which has now hit the century mark in scoring two straight home games. Freshman Isaac Haney also had a breakout game for MSU with 18 points, while Ja’Monta Black contributed 15 points, and Donovan Clay posted 10 points and snagged a career-high 15 rebounds.
It was Clay’s third career double-double but first as a Bear.
Minnett was 7-of-11 from 3-point range, while Black scored five from beyond the arc. Mosley (4-for-4) and Haney (4-for-5) were also hot from distance for the Bears who eclipsed the old program record of 17, set in 2018 against William Woods. The previous MVC record of 20 was achieved five times previously — last by Northern Iowa in 2020.
The Bears also savored the return of point guard Demarcus Sharp, an MVC All-Newcomer Team selection in 2020-21, who had a game-high six assists, no turnovers and scored six points in a 23-minute assignment.
Evangel was led by Josh Pritchett with 17 points, while Stephen Salvi scored 13 points for the cross-town visitors.
Early in the game, the Bears used an 18-0 run over a three-minute stretch before the first media timeout to lead 21-3 out of the gates. Missouri State dropped in five triples in the first five minutes, including two apiece by Black and Minnett.
Evangel closed the gap to seven points twice late in the first half with a jumper from Pritchett and later on a transition bucket from Jace Coffie that made it 37-30 with 4:27 left in the period. But Mosley took things into his own hands and ignited a 15-0 run to end the half. Mosley scored 10 of the Bears’ points in that span to give the home side a 52-30 advantage at the midway point.
MSU’s run continued with treys from Minnett and Gaige Prim to start the second half, culminating a 21-0 run and pushing the home side ahead 58-30, its biggest lead of the game to that point.
With just under 12 minutes to play, Mosley’s fourth triple of the game doubled up the Valor, 76-38, with the team’s school-record tying 17th 3-pointer.
Eventually, the Bears would push ahead by 40 for the first time on a pair of free throws from Clay at the 4:45 mark, and Haney’s last free throws of the night gave Missouri State its largest lead of the contest with the final 47-point margin.
MoState finished 35-of-58 (.603) from the field and 21-for-37 (.568) from long range. The Bears were also 12-of-16 (.750) at the foul line with a 42-29 rebounding advantage.
The Valor finished 22-for-66 (.333) from the field, 5-of-24 (.208) from 3-point range and 7-for-12 (.583) at the stripe with 10 turnovers and 8 steals.
