Miller leads balanced Missouri St. to 85-80 win in opener

Nov 11, 2017, 12:52 am

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- J.T. Miller scored 14 points and four teammates also reached double figures as Missouri State upended Western Kentucky 85-80 in a season opener Friday night.

The Bears had taken an 81-74 lead before Western Kentucky started dropping 3-pointers and came as close as 82-80 with 15 seconds left in the game before Ryan Kreklow sank two from the line and Western Kentucky missed a 3 at the other end.

Alize Johnson scored 13 points and had eight rebounds for Missouri State, Reggie Scurry and Ronnie Rousseau III each scored 12 and Obediah Church 11 as the Bears shot 34 for 61 (56 percent) from the field.

Lamonte Bearden led the Hilltoppers with 24 points and Darius Thompson added 19 before fouling out. Visiting Missouri State was whistled for 31 fouls as Western Kentucky scored 28 points from the foul line.