A quick nine points scored by Alize Johnson gave the Missouri State Bears an early lead, but a season-high six turnovers would tell the story of Sunday’s game in Normal, Illinois.
Missouri State turned the ball over 18 times in the 72-68 loss to Illinois State. The game was the Bears’ first Missouri Valley loss of the season.
“They were aggressors the first half,” Missouri State head coach Paul Lusk said.
Johnson shot three 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the game, but that was all he would get for eight minutes.
Between the shots, the Redbirds went on a 21-7 run that started with Illinois State’s Phil Fayne’s layup with 15:08 left in the first half.