SPRINGFIELD,
MO - (2-15-2003) — The SMS Bears bolted into a 19-point lead early
in the second half, saw Indiana State close to within seven, and then pushed
safely back in front on the way to a 65-51 Missouri Valley Conference victory
over the Sycamores Saturday in Hammons Student Center.
The Bears moved from a 33-22 halftime edge into a 19-point advantage at 43-24 five minutes into the second half. ISU then came alive offensively and slowly cut the lead to seven at 51-44 with 5:28 to play. That was as close as the Sycamores got as SMS built its lead back into double digits and led by 17 inside the final minute before winning by 14.
The win moved SMS to 14-8 for the season and 10-3 in the Valley as the Bears edged back to within a game of MVC co-leaders Southern Illinois and Creighton, which both lost Saturday. ISU fell to 2-11 in the league and 6-18 overall.
SMS had a 36-27 rebound margin in the game as Monwell Randle had his fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Tamarr Maclin helped the Bears on the boards with seven rebounds to go with seven points. Terrance McGee led SMS in scoring for the fourth game in a row as he had 19 points and Merrill Andrews popped home seven of 10 from the field and scored 16. Lamar Grimes led Indiana State with 17 points. David Moss chipped in 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Sycamores.
The Sycamores are back in action Wednesday (Feb. 19) when they tip-off at Creighton at 7:05 p.m., CST. Last week the Bluejays won in overtime against Southwest Missouri State and lost at Wichita State, but Creighton remains in the Top 20 of both USA Today/ESPN and Associated Press Polls. CU, which was slated 12th in both last week's USA Today/ESPN and AP Polls, is 17th in the AP Poll and 18th in the USA Today/ESPN Poll. Live Internet Audio Streaming coverage of ISU at Creighton (22-3, 12-2 MVC) on USA-365.com begins with the pre-game show at 6:40 p.m., CST.