In the second half, MSU opened up its first double-figure lead quickly, scoring three quick layups out of the gate, including two by Weems, forcing an SIU timeout less than 90 seconds into the second stanza. With a 41-28 lead at that point, MSU extended its advantage to 20 for the first time on a Weems' jumper with 8:01 to go in the game and eventually led by 23 with just under six minutes remaining.
Weems' streak of 24 straight double-figure scoring games was snapped with a nine-point effort, while Nafis Ricks scored 12, and Adame Leonard added 11 behind three treys.
Mamadou Seck led SIU with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Southern Illinois shot .333 (19-of-57) from the field and 5-of-17 (.294) from three.
The victory for Missouri State also gave it its seventh MVC road win of the campaign, something the Bears had never done.
The regular-season finale against Wichita State begins at 12:02 p.m. at JQH Arena. The handful of remaining tickets go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. at the JQH Arena Box Office. A student pep rally is planned for Noon Friday, with a pregame fan celebration starting at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday outside JQH
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Ricardo Ratliffe narrowly missed a
double-double in the first half and Laurence Bowers scored 18 of
his 20 points in the second to lead No. 20 Missouri to a 77-59
victory over Baylor on Wednesday night.
Kim English was 4 for 6 from 3-point range and had 16 points for
the Tigers (22-6, 8-5), who are the Big 12's only unbeaten team at
home (17-0). They've had at least a 15-point second-half lead in 12
of the last 13 games.
LaceDarius Dunn, who leads the Big 12 with a 20.8 average, was
scoreless in the first half for Baylor (17-10, 6-7) and finished
with 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting with six turnovers. Perry Jones
III had 10 points and 10 rebounds, rallying late after a 2-for-10
shooting start.
Ratliffe had eight of his 10 points and 12 of his 13 rebounds in
the first half. He has five double-doubles, two in the last three
games.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Marcus Britt's layup in the final
minute of overtime lifted Arkansas to a 77-76 win over No. 22
Kentucky on Wednesday night.
The Razorbacks trailed 76-75 in the extra period, and the
Wildcats had possession. However, Jeff Peterson stole an errant
Kentucky pass and found Britt at the other end of the court for the
game-winning layup.
Arkansas (17-9, 6-6 Southeastern Conference) improved to 1-3 in
overtime this season and gave coach John Pelphrey his first win in
four chances against his alma mater.
Rotnei Clarke led Arkansas with 26 points, and Marshawn Powell
added 22.
Kentucky (19-8, 7-6) had three shots in the final seconds of
overtime. The last was a desperation 3-point attempt by freshman
Brandon Knight after an inbound play with 1.8 seconds remaining.
Knight scored 26 points for the Wildcats, who fell to 1-6 on the
road in SEC play.
