Illinois State @ Missouri State Game Thread

[BEARNUT]

Taking care of the ball and rebounding are the keys to winning mid-week games. Bears 85 Redbirds 72

[isuquinndog]

Playing ISU is also key to winning a mid-week game. MSU wins going away.

[okstarsfan]

Playing ISU is also key to winning a mid-week game.

I didn't say it, only to try and be nice (plus I didn't want to tempt fate)....

I would have given IlSU a chance in January, when the Bears mentally hibernate during their annual 3-5 game losing streak.

But the calendar has changed.....

:bears: 81-68 :redbirds:

[pantherhawk]

Mo State 81
Ill State 55

Mo State is too powerful for the Redbirds!

[Phantom]

MSU shot almost 70% from the floor at Redbird Arena last month, but still had to play the full 40 mins to beat us, and put the nail in the coffin at the FT line in the final minute to win by 9. It was a well played game and one that we coulda/shoulda won, but it was also at home. Different story altogether tonight. We've lost 16 straight conference road games. I dont think we end that streak in Springfield. We'll show up and play hard, but unless we have our best defensive effort of the season, or MSU is having an off night shooting, MSU takes this one. I just hope we keep it within 10.

[Canevision]

MSU shot almost 70% from the floor at Redbird Arena last month, but still had to play the full 40 mins to beat us, and put the nail in the coffin at the FT line in the final minute to win by 9. It was a well played game and one that we coulda/shoulda won, but it was also at home. Different story altogether tonight. We've lost 16 straight conference road games. I dont think we end that streak in Springfield. We'll show up and play hard, but unless we have our best defensive effort of the season, or MSU is having an off night shooting, MSU takes this one. I just hope we keep it within 10.

I don't see how you can say you shoulda won, coulda, maybe.

MSU turned the ball over a gazillion times, that is why it was so close. ISU is not a team without talent, and they have a chance anytime they play, but they "shouldn't" have won that game.

:bears: :valley:

[Phantom]

I don't see how you can say you shoulda won, coulda, maybe.

MSU turned the ball over a gazillion times, that is why it was so close. ISU is not a team without talent, and they have a chance anytime they play, but they "shouldn't" have won that game.

:bears: :valley:


I was only making an expression with that statement (the old coulda/woulda/shoulda BS...which has been the story of our team the last 2 years :lol: .)

You are correct, we forced 17 turnovers that led to 23pts, but the bottom line was that MSU made plays down the stretch and we did not. We were outrebounded 30-22, and were only 13-23 from the line. Plus, its awfully tough to win when your opponent shoots 66% from the floor and 67% from 3 :fear: Those were the biggest differences in that game.

[Canevision]

I was only making an expression with that statement (the old coulda/woulda/shoulda BS...which has been the story of our team the last 2 years :lol: .)

You are correct, we forced 17 turnovers that led to 23pts, but the bottom line was that MSU made plays down the stretch and we did not. We were outrebounded 30-22, and were only 13-23 from the line. Plus, its awfully tough to win when your opponent shoots 66% from the floor and 67% from 3 :fear: Those were the biggest differences in that game.

Yeah, I took it too far. My bad, I knew what you meant.

Neither team was great that game.

[Nyghtewynd]

I still have a hard time believing that the good Bears team is automatically going to show up from week to week. The awful team is still out there somewhere practicing that sweet defense.

[tpguy1]

It was the refs or a conspiracy last time we played that beat us.

[Canevision]

It was the refs or a conspiracy last time we played that beat us.

Lol, it usually is.

The Bears haven't lost a game yet, it has always been taken from them. :grin:

[DannyCooksey]

I'd be thrilled to lose by less than 10 tonight. I'd consider it a blowout victory.

i think we'll try hard but we'll miss FT's and make bad passes and we'll shoot a poor percentage from 3 and lose by about 15 points. We'll dive on the floor, but we won't block out correctly and we'll allow too many good looks as the shot clock hits about 10.

We'll also force some odd looking shots with the clock running down and have a terribly difficult time making a good inbounds play under our basket. We will usually throw it out behind the time line and start our offense about 28 feet from the basket on most occasions. We will stand around on offense and wait for someone else to make a play which will make it very easy to be guarded.

We will also have a horrendous approach to attacking the basket when MSU goes to a zone tonight. We will look athletic and fast in warm ups though.

[smsbears07]

The bears might win this one like the Evansville game at home. That game was on ESPNU as well I beleive. Ill say..

Bears 87
Birds 52

ISU turns it over a lot, misses a lot of shots and Porter Moser gets thrown out in the process. Barry looks like a genious coaching against Porter. Ahearn puts up 20, Devin Mitchell has a big game as well. GO BEARS

[TNMSUFAN]

Just win and I don't care what the score is...

:bears:

[Phantom]

I'd be thrilled to lose by less than 10 tonight. I'd consider it a blowout victory.

i think we'll try hard but we'll miss FT's and make bad passes and we'll shoot a poor percentage from 3 and lose by about 15 points. We'll dive on the floor, but we won't block out correctly and we'll allow too many good looks as the shot clock hits about 10.

We'll also force some odd looking shots with the clock running down and have a terribly difficult time making a good inbounds play under our basket. We will usually throw it out behind the time line and start our offense about 28 feet from the basket on most occasions. We will stand around on offense and wait for someone else to make a play which will make it very easy to be guarded.

We will also have a horrendous approach to attacking the basket when MSU goes to a zone tonight. We will look athletic and fast in warm ups though.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[smsbears07]

any kind of internet gametracker for this one? I cant get espn u and i was wondering if there was at leasta gametracker

[Beary Hinson]

Bears 26
Birds 19

Just past the under 8:00 timeout.

Rebounds 24-7 Bears

[Beary Hinson]

30-23 Bears, 3:14 left in 1H

Bilyeu to the line after media timeout

[BEARNUT]

How many O-boards do the Bears have? Turnovers killing the Bears.

[Beary Hinson]

Rebounds are 27-8 Bears. Ill. St., the top offensive rebounding team in the Valley, has zero offensive boards.

Bilyeu hits 1-2 FTs. 31-23 MSU.

[Beary Hinson]

I believe Nate has 5 offensive boards alone. Not sure of the team total.

[BEARNUT]

Ahearn with a THREEEEEEEE!

37-25 Bears at half.

[Beary Hinson]

Bears up 37-25 at the break. Had an offensive lull mid first-half, but the Bears turned it on at the end.

[Beary Hinson]

Ahearn 11 pts, 4 reb., Bilyeu 9 and 5, Drew 5 and 5 in first half

Rebounds: MSU 31, ISU 10. Still no offensive boards for Birds. Correction from earlier: ISU is 2nd in the MVC on offensive boards. Bears have 15 offensive boards.

[shroomcap]

Another stellar 20 minutes of basketball by the Birds :no: . When will this madness end?

[barkeep1967]

Well I said it in the other thread and I will say it here to.

Why is ILSU trying to turn this game into a track meet ?

[DoubleJayAlum]

any kind of internet gametracker for this one? I cant get espn u and i was wondering if there was at leasta gametracker

ESPN game tracker here: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/gamecast?gameId=270372623

[Beary Hinson]

Spencer nails a 3. TO, Birds. 45-29, Bears' biggest lead of game.

[Beary Hinson]

Another bomb by Spencer. 49-32 MSU with 14:38 left. Media TO.

[Beary Hinson]

Dilligard gets first ISU offensive rebound with 11:49 to go, gets the putback and draws the foul. He'll shoot the FT after the timeout. 49-39, a 7-0 Birds run with a chance to make it a 9-point game.

[Beary Hinson]

But, the 39 % FT shooter misses it, still a 10-point game. Then, on Bears possession, Dilligard gets his 6th block of the game.

Dyer then scores and is fouled and makes FT. Down to 49-42.

[Beary Hinson]

Bears answer 10-0 ISU run with a 6-0 run of their own. 55-42.

Looks like they snapped out of same offensive lull they had mid 1st half.

[BEARNUT]

57-42. TO Redbirds

[Beary Hinson]

Make it an 8-0 run. Back to a 15-point game, 57-42, with 8:39 left.

[BEARNUT]

Nice inbound play to Ahearn. Great coaching job by Hinson.

[Beary Hinson]

Boo 3-point play followed by Ahearn 3-point play. 18 for Blake, now 7th in scoring in school history. 134 behind 6th place guy. 62-47 MSU.

[Beary Hinson]

Ahearn 2-2 FT. Goes to bench with 20 pts.

Bears up 66-50 with 3:59 to play

[BEARNUT]

69-59 Two minutes remaining

[BEARNUT]

Need to sweep this one up by hitting all of our free throws.

[Beary Hinson]

Chaney 1-2 FT. He's 5-10 at line, 1-2 each trip to the line.

71-59

[Beary Hinson]

Careless TO by Bears.

Boo scores, basket good, but he is called for an offensive foul.

Bilyeu 0-2 FT. Here we go again at the line.

[BEARNUT]

71-61. 1:17 to go. Bilyeu misses both free throws.

[Beary Hinson]

Need to sweep this one up by hitting all of our free throws.

We've lapsed back into our free throw woes again, though.

[Beary Hinson]

This time, Nate hits both freebies. 11 pts, 10 boards.

73-61.

[BEARNUT]

Bilyeu with 11 pts 10 boards. Hit 2 free throws:bounceblue:

[BEARNUT]

Bears win by 12, 73-61. Great game on the boards by the Bears. 50-25 edge with 19 offensive boards.

[Beary Hinson]

All 5 Bears starters in double figures scoring.

50-25 rebounding advantage for Bears.

MSU has now won 5 in a row over the Birds and 9 of 11. Well, at UNI next.

:bears:

[BEARNUT]

Bears "official record" is 19-6. Win at UNI and we're in the tournament, maybe.:ermm: :ermm:

[Nyghtewynd]

Bears "official record" is 19-6. Win at UNI and we're in the tournament, maybe.:ermm: :ermm:

So that's with the D-III win and the SLU game, right? I wasn't going to count that one at first, either, but SLU cheated, and on top of that they aren't any good. I'll drive down there tomorrow and get our win and bring it back to Springfield. ;)

[Beary Hinson]

:grin: Bears "official record" is 19-6. Win at UNI and we're in the tournament, maybe.:ermm: :ermm:

[MSU Bleeds Maroon]

Well I said it in the other thread and I will say it here to.

Why is ILSU trying to turn this game into a track meet ?

Fortunately for the Birds, Barry wanted no part of a high-tempo game.

15 minutes left, Bears up 17... and out comes the milking machine. Several consecutive possessions where the Bears run 30 seconds off the clock, put up a bad shot, and miss horribly. What do ya know? 10-0 ISU run.

3 minutes left, Bears up by 15 or so... get the rebound, and the transition game is off. Three Bears are well-spaced, a transition bucket looks probable... but all three players slow down, and nobody cuts to the basket. Pretty obvious they've been told to run the clock. Turnover, ISU basket, and the foul parade commences.

The strength of this MSU team is in shooting and rebounding. Milking the clock takes shots and rebound potential away. As long as Barry insists on force-feeding a ball-control, clock-milking, defense-first mindset down this team's throat, they'll always play at less than their potential.

[Nyghtewynd]

Agreed. Fifteen points is not enough of a lead to run clock. Two shots makes fifteen ten, and, well, we saw in Des Moines how fast a ten-point lead can go away.

[Phantom]

Wow. Now that was just a beating from start to finish. I'm glad that once again my 'Birds showed no quit and that they will play hard until the final buzzer but my lord we lost track of fundamentals tonight. Lack of rebounding, turnovers, forced shots, lazy defensively at times, losing your man, etc...just ugly.

Watched the game at a local watering hole with some fellow students and here's about what we saw:

We got in early foul trouble, didnt defend like we needed to, got down by double digits at halftime, and then came one of the worst halftime stats I've seen in a long time:

Rebounds: MSU 31 ISU 10
Offensive Rebounds: MSU 15 ISU 0 :

Game over :cursing:

Outrebounded 50-25 for the game. Unacceptable. Also, we couldnt take advantage of a rare off night for MSU from the line. We made it semi-interesting with some late 3's but overall we just got whipped.

[troutangler]

Outrebounded 50-25 for the game. Unacceptable. Also, we couldnt take advantage of a rare off night for MSU from the line. We made it semi-interesting with some late 3's but overall we just got whipped.

No, our inability to make free throws has gone on for about a month now. We went from a pretty good free throw shooting team (Pretty sure we led the conference at least the last two years) to a turd of a free throw shooting team. We miss the front end of more 1/1's than any team I've seen. If we get two shots, we'll miss the first and make the second, ruling out any chance for an offensive board.

Our meltdown in St. Louis could include free throws clanking off the iron left and right. I can see it now.

[troutangler]

I'm watching a replay of the game on ESPNU right now. Dan McClaughlin is doing the play by play. This Conley guy doing the color is a clown. He has claimed so far that:

- Missouri State lost three in a row because of injuries and off the court problems. :no:

- Anthony Slack was the newcomer of the year last year in the Valley.

I'll update as we hear more insight from this dork.

[Phantom]

I'm watching a replay of the game on ESPNU right now. Dan McClaughlin is doing the play by play. This Conley guy doing the color is a clown. He has claimed so far that:

- Missouri State lost three in a row because of injuries and off the court problems. :no:

- Anthony Slack was the newcomer of the year last year in the Valley.

I'll update as we hear more insight from this dork.

They didnt have the sound on at the bar we were at (they were playing music) so we couldnt hear the play-by-play, but this guy actually said these things??? Thats just...bad :no: :lol:

[okstarsfan]

Bears "official record" is 19-6. Win at UNI and we're in the tournament, maybe.:ermm: :ermm:

Even McClaughlin mentioned how the Bears got hosed in the SLU game.

The fact that Mo State played so poorly in the SLU game bothered me more than actually taking the L. If they don't play poorly, the game isn't close and it doesn't matter if the final shot counts or not.