CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Consider one demon exorcised for the Missouri State men’s basketball team.
Two, if you factor in the team’s late-game struggles at times early this season.
The Bears put together an eye-popping first half, then held on in the final 10 minutes for a 68-64 victory over Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams Wednesday night.
“We were drowning there for a little bit," Bears coach Paul Lusk said, "but we had a little bit of air left in us, and we found a way to get out of that dangerous water and come out of here with a great win.