Missouri State Holds Off Jacksonville State 74-67

Missouri State improved to 13-9 on the season with a 74-67 victory over Jacksonville State at the Great Southern Bank Arena. The Bears' win was fueled by a strong performance from Keith Palek III, who finished with 18 points and 6 assists. Palek III's impressive outing helped Missouri State build a lead that they would maintain throughout the game, despite a late push from the Gamecocks.

At halftime, Missouri State held a 39-31 advantage, thanks in part to Palek III's 10 first-half points. The Bears' offense was clicking, with Trey Williams Jr. and Kobi Williams also contributing to the scoring effort. Williams Jr. finished with 14 points, while Williams added 13. Jacksonville State, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, with Jacoby Hill's 8 points leading the way.

In the second half, Jacksonville State made a concerted effort to get back into the game. Hill, who finished with 16 points, helped spark a Gamecocks run that cut the deficit to just 5 points with under 10 minutes remaining. However, Missouri State responded with a series of clutch baskets, including a few key jumpers from Palek III, to push their lead back to double digits. The Gamecocks refused to give up, with Iaroslav Niagu and Jaye Nash contributing to a late surge that made the final score 74-67.

The win was predicted by CHD Scout, who had Missouri State favored by 3.2 points. The actual margin of 7 points was a bit wider than expected, but the outcome was still in line with the prediction. The game was a non-conference matchup, but it still holds significance for both teams' resumes. For Missouri State, the win counts as a Quadrant 4 victory, while for Jacksonville State, it goes down as a Quadrant 3 loss.

The result has implications for both teams' tournament chances. Missouri State, with a current net ranking of 200, still has work to do to secure a spot in the postseason. However, the win over Jacksonville State helps to bolster their resume, particularly given the Gamecocks' respectable net ranking of 215. Jacksonville State, on the other hand, want to bounce back from the loss and regain momentum in their pursuit of a tournament bid.

Ultimately, the victory is a reflection of Missouri State's ability to close out games against quality opponents. With Palek III leading the charge, the Bears were able to hold off a determined Jacksonville State team and secure a hard-fought win. As the season enters its final stretch, Missouri State want to build on this performance and make a push for a tournament spot. The win over Jacksonville State is a step in the right direction, and the Bears will aim to keep their momentum going in the coming weeks.