SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team was unable to overcome a hot-shooting Missouri State squad Sunday afternoon, falling 91-65 at JQH Arena.
 
Head coach Ray Harper's squad was not able to defend the three-ball against the Missouri Valley's preseason fourth-ranked team. Missouri State nailed 15 three-pointers (48.4%). Forty-five of MSU's 91 points were scored off threes, while they were a combined 30-for-64 from the floor.
 
Both teams got off to slow starts following a JSU-controlled tip. It took 1:51 before the Bears got on the board with a couple of free throws from guard Dequon Miller. The Missouri State shooters heated up afterwards to run out to a 12-0 lead. The Gamecocks were kept out of the basket until the 14:29 mark when Deshawn Jones hit a jumper.
 
Despite holding an early rebounding advantage, pulling down 17 rebounds in the first half, Jacksonville State was not able to capitalize on second-chance points. On the other hand, Missouri State took full advantage of the Gamecocks' 15 first-half turnovers. MSU scored 45 points in the first and 19 came off JSU turnovers.
 
The Jacksonville State offense surged in the second half, scoring 45 after a 20-point first half. Christian Cunningham scored all 13 of his points in the second half, and 12 of Norbertas Giga's 16 points came in the second half.
 
Cunningham and Giga were the Gamecocks' lone double-figure scorers. The towering duo also led the rebounding effort with a combined 15 boards. Cunningham reeled in eight and Giga had seven.
 
Jacksonville State returns to action Wednesday in Bowling Green, Ky. The Gamecocks take on Western Kentucky at 8 p.m. on FOX College Sports, then head off to Fort Worth, Texas to face Texas Christian University on Friday.
 
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