Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Despite a scintillating scoring display by Corey Lyons (Bronx, N.Y.) and Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.), host Missouri State rode a late-game charge by Spencer Laurie to top Norfolk State 75-66 on the first night of the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tournament at JQH Arena, sending the Spartans (1-7) to their seventh consecutive loss.
Lyons poured in a career-high 32 points and tied the school record with seven 3-pointers, including five in a torrid first-half run that brought NSU back into the game. Deloach added 24 points and six rebounds, notching his fourth game this season with at least 20 points.
NSU led 64-60 after two Deloach free throws with 6:20 left in the game. But the Spartans hit just one field goal in the final 7:21. Laurie hit a driving layup to give MSU the lead for good at 64-63. After a Spartan turnover, Laurie made a jumper for a 66-63 lead. Lyons answered with his 11th and final made basket of the night to bring NSU within 67-66, but Laurie responded with a 3-pointer from the left wing as the Bears pulled away.
The game looked to be a rout early on, with MSU claiming a 20-6 lead after a jumper by Cardell McFarland with 11:33 remaining in the first half. But Lyons went on a tear, scoring 15 of his 17 first-half points in a four-minute span. He canned five 3-pointers in that run, and NSU trailed just 41-38 at the half.
Lyons hit two more 3-pointers in the first two and a half minutes of the second half to give the Spartans their first lead of the contest, at 46-45. Deloach accounted for the fifth lead-change of the half by hitting a free throw with 9:15 remaining to NSU ahead, 58-57. The Spartans held the lead for nearly seven minutes thereafter but could not stave off the Bears (6-3), whose early-season resume includes a win over Arkansas.
Wade Knapp paced Missouri State with 18 points and nine rebounds. Laurie had 15 points despite shooting just 5-of-16 from the floor. Chris Cooks contributed a double-double of 13 points and 10 assists.
Lyons was 11-of-23 from the floor, 7-of-14 from behind the arc, and tied his career high with three blocks. The school mark of seven 3-pointers had previously been set by Tony Murphy (three times), Terrence Winston and Ralph Tally.
NSU blocked a season-high nine shots, including three apiece by Lyons and Brandon Monroe (Raeford, N.C.). Monroe also hauled in a team-high nine rebounds and Kevin Worsley (Chesapeake, Va.) snared eight.
The Spartans face Middle Tennessee State at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday night on the tournament's second day.
