Junior Ben Krikke (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada / Jasper Place) scored a team-high 14 points, but the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team incurred a 74-57 setback to Missouri State on Saturday at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Isiaih Mosley poured in 32 points to pace the visiting Bears.

How It Happened

• Missouri State jumped out to an 11-2 lead over the game’s first five minutes. Sheldon Edwards (West Palm Beach, Fla. / Palm Beach Lakes) drilled a 3 to snap a Valpo dry spell, and the Beacons cut the deficit to four.
• At the exact midway mark of the half, Gaige Prim laid one in to give Missouri State its first double-figure advantage at 21-11.
• Missouri State extended the first-half lead to as many as 14, but the Beacons carried some momentum with them into the locker room as 3s by Darius DeAveiro (Kanata, Ottawa, Canada / Orangeville Prep) and Edwards accounted for the final six points of the half to decrease the deficit to eight at 34-26.
• A triple by Kevion Taylor (Milwaukee, Wis. / Whitnall [Winona State]) started the second-half scoring and reduced the Valpo deficit to five, but Missouri State scored the next eight points to build up a 42-29 lead with 17:38 to play.
• The Bears led by double figures the rest of the way.

Inside the Game

• Mosley became the first Valpo opponent to surpass 30 points since Tyreke Key on Feb. 13, 2019 vs. Indiana State (32).
• Krikke scored in double figures for the fourth time in the last five games and the 10^th time overall this season. He led the team in scoring for the sixth time this year. Krikke also finished with five rebounds, his second time this season pacing the team on the glass.
• DeAveiro scored a career-high eight points while knocking down three of his five shot attempts and adding four rebounds and two assists.
• Edwards tallied nine points, while King and Taylor added eight apiece. Taylor dished out a season-high five assists.
• Taylor extended his streak of consecutive games with a made 3-pointer to 81.
• Valpo made just seven turnovers, but Missouri State also took good care of the basketball, also committing just seven. Valpo committed 10 turnovers or fewer for the 11^th time in 18 games this season.

Postgame Press Conference

Click here for postgame press conference.

Up Next

Valpo (8-10, 1-5 MVC) will remain home to host UNI on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The game will be broadcast as part of the conference-selected Valley on ESPN package on ESPN+. For ticket information, visit valpoatheltics.com/tickets.