Missouri State coach Paul Lusk has been saying for the last month about how his freshmen and first-year players can’t play like freshmen and first-year players in the conference season.
Consider him satisfied with what he saw in the Bears’ thrilling 84-81 overtime victory over Illinois State on Saturday afternoon at JQH Arena.
There wouldn’t have been overtime without juco transfer Dequon Miller, who drained about a 25-footer with the Redbirds leading 72-69 in the final seconds of regulation.
And there wouldn’t have been a victory without the play of freshman Jarred Dixon, who took over in the final minute of the extra session, as the Bears rallied from down 79-72.