SPRINGFIELD, MO. -- The Indiana State men's basketball team challenged Missouri State but fell short against the Bears 70-66 Sunday, Jan. 3, in JQH Arena.
 
The Sycamores (3-6, 0-4 MVC) controlled nearly every facet of the game, out-rebounding the Bears (6-1, 3-1 MVC) 31-29, while also forcing more turnovers (17-14), scoring more points in the paint (30-24), and off the bench (31-9), and blocking more shots (4-2). One of the key differences was MSU's ability to get to the line, shooting 81.5% from the stripe on 27 attempts, while ISU shot just 19 free throws, making 15.
 
Fifth year Randy Miller Jr. provided a scoring spark off the bench, dropping in 17 points while adding two rebounds and two steals. Senior Tyreke Key put up his first double-double of the season with a 13-point, 10-rebound performance, and also added a team-leading four assists for good measure. Sophomore Tre Williams added 10 points and six rebounds while holding one of the Missouri Valley Conference's leading scorers, Gaige Prim, to just 10 points.
 
Missouri State's Isiaih Mosley set a new career-best with 29 points scored, while Prim also added seven rebounds.
 
The back-and-forth battle saw 12 lead changes and seven ties, with ISU leading for over 15 minutes of game time.
 
Indiana State returns home looking for its first win in Valley play next weekend, Jan. 9-10, for a pair of 1 p.m. games against Southern Illinois University in Hulman Center.