Shockwaves

Final in OT: WSU 70, Mo State 62

Mekel makes 1 of 2, it’s 68-61. The Shockers won’t give up an easy three, so Laurie drives and is fouled with 11.6 to go. He makes one, 68-62.

MSU wasn’t fouling, but Mekel didn’t run it out. He lobbed into Couisnard for a jam with 1.2 to play. Strange ending.

Thanks for checking in tonight. WSU improves to 2-8 in the Valley with its first conference home win.

0:21.2, overtime: WSU 67, Mo State 61

Thomasson made a great drive but missed the shot, but all was not lost when Cooks charged at the other end with 41.3 seconds to go.

Mekel is fouled with 36.8 to play. He’ll get two and can all but ice it . . . good, good. Six-point game.

MSU gets a Lamberth three that misses, WSU rebounds and Mekel is fouled. Up six with 21.2 to go.

1:04, overtime: WSU 65, Mo State 61

Hinson called a full timeout, which seemed to last as long as the 2007 Royals season. Who knew ESPNU had all this advertising to use up?

WSU had nothing going in the first possession back, and Mekel lost the ball and fouled Fuehrmeyer. He misses the one-and-one, though, giving it back to WSU.

The Shockers are 1-8 in conference and 9,500 folks are on their feet this entire overtime.

Marshall is in Mekel’s face after some questionable OT decisions with the ball. Fans are calling for Marshall to pull him, but how can he? He’s the only ballhandler.

Clemente misses the first of two, makes the second for a 63-57 lead with 2:05 to play.

MSU has two weapons, Cooks inside and Laurie outside. Cooks gets Ellis to foul out with a drive and basket on the block. He’ll get a FT with 1:44 to go. Cooz is back in — he’s out on defensive possessions after a whistle because he has four fouls, too.

FT is good, it’s WSU up 63-60, 1:44 to go.

Thomasson scores on a give-and-go from Mekel with 1:27 to go. Clemente quickly fouls Cooks, though. He makes one, it’s 65-61.

2:47, overtime: WSU 62, Mo State 57

Thomasson gives WSU a two-point lead with free throws. WSU’s man defense has been terrific many possessions down the stretch.

Mekel’s three with 3:15 to play makes it a five-point game. MSU needs a basket badly, but Cooks loses it out of bounds. Hinson calls a timeout.

Overtime: Mo State 57, WSU 57

The officials are checking to make sure Lamberth’s feet were behind the arc. Beat Writer Paul runs over to the monitor, reminiscent of Lauretta McMillen watching behind Mark Allan and Bob Ortegel to see the replay of the famous fight at Terre Haute in 1989, and says there’s no angle that shows definitively if it was a three or two.

Yes, it stays a three. WSU ball, here we go . . . Mekel slowly brings it up, MSU in a man, Cooz will take it one on one . . . and gets it stripped with two seconds to play, time runs out. It’s a tie game, good night everyone!

Oh, they’re going to play overtime.

0:15.6, 2nd half: Mo State 57, WSU 57

It’s been an amazingly-even game statistically. Both teams shooting about 40 percent, both about 30 percent from three. Rebounds even.

MSU gets Laurie open for a shot but he misses, and Preadom gets a quick layup at the other end following a Mekel rebound.

But Dale Lamberth avoids a flying defender at him and buries a three with 15.6 seconds to go, tying it at 57. MSU’s Hinson calls timeout.

0:45.2, 2nd half: WSU 55, Mo State 54

MSU misses but gets a fresh 35 with the offensive rebound. Ellis appears to play pretty good one-on-one defense, but Cooks draws the foul after three hard dribbles and goes to the line . . . make, miss. WSU up 55-54, 2:18 to play.

Cooz is back in and throws a good lob to Thomasson, who can’t quite handle it and MSU gets it back. Thomasson draws a charge against Fuehrmeyer with 1:38 to go.

Mo State stays in the zone, now a matchup, and Preadom travels with 1:25 to play.

The Bears are subbing offense for defense with Cooks on offense, let’s see if he posts up on Couisnard . . . one minute to play . . . Laurie misses a three at the end of the shot clock, WSU gets the rebound.

Then Mekel makes an ill-advised drive into the lane in transition, leaving his feet and barreling into the Bears defender as he passes. An obvious foul and turnover. MSU will have it with 45.2 to play.

2:59, 2nd half: WSU 55, Mo State 53

The team foul bug is on the other foot (sorry for the mixed metaphor) this half. With 3:28 to go, WSU has just four team fouls in the half.

Clemente hits two foul shots out of the timeout for a 55-53 lead. A halfcourt game all night will be decided by better halfcourt execution these final three minutes.

3:56, 2nd half: Mo State 53, WSU 53

A much better offensive five for WSU after the TO: Durley, Mekel, Cooz, Thomasson and Ellis. But it’s Spencer Laurie who gives MSU a lead with a three. Couisnard answers with a three that goes for a 50-48 lead.

Laurie answers with another three, MSU has the lead again. Not a great game, but an entertaining game.

We’re tied at 51 after a Thomasson free throw. First one to 60 might win.

Mekel makes a driving shot for the lead again, then Marshall takes the first timeout of the half. The Bears need the rest — and there would’ve been a media timeout at the next whistle. That’s three times in two games Marshall has done that. May not be a big deal, just worth noting.

7:48, 2nd half: WSU 47, Mo State 45

We think ESPNU just joined us in progress, with 11:26 to play. Good thing the Super Bowl’s not on ESPNU this year.

Couisnard gets his third foul on a charge with 10:12 to go, he’ll sit for a while with WSU still up 47-43.

We’ve been on this score for almost three minutes. Welcome, ESPNU viewers!

A basket! After 3 1/2 minutes, Cooks scores for MSU to cut it to two. WSU’s wanting to get to the media timeout without more struggles so Couisnard . . . wait, he’s back in at 8:06. Forget the TO.

11:26, 2nd half: WSU 47, Mo State 43

Durley has scored the Shockers’ last four points, all inside. MSU’s answered each time, though, before Couisnard scores inside and gets a free throw for a 43-39 lead. The first lead of more than a point for a while.

The Bears have abandoned their zones since the last media timeout but without much success. WSU, on the other hand, isn’t offering much defensive resistance, either.

Durley has scored eight of WSU’s last 11 points, all near the backboard. That’s his place, gang, not shooting a three whenever he’s open.

MSU’s beginning to get gassed. Let’s see if they come back from the media TO in a zone again.

15:58, 2nd half: WSU 36, Mo State 35

Triple OT in Cape Girardeau, I hear. Bless all y’all’s hearts.

Ramon Clemente gets WSU off to a good start in the second half, taking advantage of MSU’s attempt to double-team to start the half. He gets free, takes a dribble and jams it.

Beat Writer Paul notes it was WSU’s first halftime lead since the Jan. 1 Illinois State game. Yes, a long month.

Marshall’s first complaint about officiating was a hoot. Couisnard was called for a foul, and as the Bear was shooting FTs, Marshall yelled to J.D. Collins that the Bear initiated contact. As Marshall turned away from Collins, Collins (from 50 feet) motioned to WSU’s assistants that Marshall had better settle down.

MSU takes its first lead since 18-17 with a Lambert basket. He scores again, but not before Couisnard slams an alley-oop pass.

Halftime: By the numbers

You’re missing some classic “mini-tennis” from the Shocker tennis teams. It’s a ping-pong exhibition, sort of, while director of tennis Chris Young talks about the teams. I’m not sure, but I think the fans are cheering only for the American players, who number less than half of the team members. C’mon, folks, you loved Sasha, Zarko and Zoran, spread the love around! (You didn’t love Mahrnord and Bart as much, I know.)

MSU scoring: Lamberth 11, Cooks 7, Fuehrmeyer 5, Knapp 2, Mitchell 2. The Bears are shooting 35.7 percent, 1 of 5 from three, 6 of 9 at the line.

WSU scoring: Couisnard 8, Mekel 7, Thomasson 5, Harris 3, Durley 3, Preadom 2. The Shockers are shooting 40.7 percent, 5 of 10 from three, 1 of 3 at the line.

The stat sheet is a good reflection of the game so far: Not bad play, just not a lot of great moments. MSU’s zone has helped the Bears win the rebounding battle 20-17 so far, and the Bears have just four fouls. Zones rest players and keep the fouls down, this game’s a perfect example.

Halftime: WSU 28, Mo State 27

Marshall commented the other day about not having lost this team through its adversity and losses. They’re still playing hard, he said, and they still are tonight.

Much of it comes from Couisnard and Thomasson, seniors who aren’t vocal guys but the young guys notice how they’re playing the game. Thomasson has already had two shots stuffed but he keeps going inside to battle.

Lambert comes up with a big 10-footer with three left on the shot clock to cut the Shocker lead to 24-22.

Sweet bounce pass from Graham Hatch inside to Couisnard, who dribbles past a defender for a dunk. Hatch is the kind of guy a defense has to respect from three-point range, but he showed some savvy with the entry pass.

Lambert’s three-point play makes it a one-point game. WSU goes with four guards against the zone, then Thomasson finger-rolls a layup in.

WSU should get the final possession up 28-27. MSU’s in a 2-3 zone, and Couisnard throws it away trying to find an open teammate for a desperation shot. MSU coach Barry Hinson alertly calls his use-it-or-lose-it 30-second timeout with 1.9 seconds to go.

From just beyond halfcourt, the Bears miss a halfcourt heave.

3:40, 1st half: WSU 24, Mo State 20

I understand ESPNU’s game is now in double overtime. I feel your pain.

Mo State has stayed the zone throughout, switching between 3-2 and 2-3. WSU continues to shoot well, though, with Mekel making a three for a 22-18 lead (biggest lead by either).

WSU just committed its sixth team foul with 5:53 to play. Mo State has one.

Durley picked up his second foul, which is too bad because he’s played pretty well in some prolonged first-half minutes. Aaron Ellis replaces him.

Thomasson gives WSU a 24-18 lead with an inside basket.

Deven Mitchell’s second foul comes with 4:08 to play in the half. He’ll likely sit the rest of the half. Lambert replaces him.

7:23, 1st half: WSU 19, Mo State 16

A student named Steve (didn’t catch his last name) just made a halfcourt shot worth a thousand bucks. He also gets to keep the Ashley Furniture Store T-shirt!!

Some things are happening that lead you to believe the Shockers end their frustrating home losing streak tonight. First, Mekel drives 25 feet and makes a reverse layup without much trouble. Next possession, walkon Lance Harris confidently drills a three-pointer for a 17-14 lead.

MSU’s keeping it right there, answering most every basket.

We’re told that ESPNU’s telecast hasn’t switched here yet because the previous game on the network is in overtime. I’ll be your lifeline, people!!!

11:10, 1st half: WSU 12, Mo State 10

Mekel is replaced by Graham Hatch after the media TO.

Mo State is in a 3-2 zone, which is keeping WSU from getting it inside. But Preadom makes a jumper, just on the line, then Couisnard busts a three in transition for a 9-7 lead.

J.T. Durley is in for the first time. He got the ball at the arc in transition and I think normally he would’ve pulled up for a three. But he’s obviously been reading my posts and he faked, then traveled going inside. He looked over to Gregg Marshall, who gave him the international sign for “shoot it.” Or it’s the international sign for “don’t pay attention to Seminoff.”

Next time down, Durley drills a three in the flow of the offense. Then he steals an entry pass on the other end. A good minute from the freshman.

15:55, 1st half: Mo State 4, WSU 4

WSU is an early 0 for 3, but Thomasson was fouled on a rebound tip. He gets the game’s first point.

Missouri State, after two free throws for the lead, comes out in a 1-2-1-1 zone press made famous by Norm Lane, my Biddy coach from 1975-79. They drop back into a zone and Couisnard breaks it with a three.

Mo State actually has nine players in uniform, but Lyndell Scranton, longtime Bears beat writer for the Springfield News-Leader, said ninth-guy Shane Laurie will only take the court if the Bears are down to four players, and the only thing he would do is stand on the court.

Mekel has traveled twice within a minute.

8:05 p.m.: Here we go

Shockers in home gold.

Interesting note: The Bears haven’t had a winning or losing streak in this calendar year. That’s a string of eight games — four wins, four losses. The last game? A loss. Just sayin’.

Many empty student-section seats tonight, but the rest of the house is pretty full. You Shocker fans are amazing.

8 p.m.: Your starters

For the Bears: F Deven Mitchell, F Dale Lamberth, G Dex Manswell, G Spencer Laurie, G Justin Fuehrmeyer.

For the Shockers: F Ramon Clemente, F Phil Thomasson, G P.J. Couisnard, G Wendell Preadom, G Gal Mekel.

Neither team has a substitute. Let’s get it on!

7:55 p.m.: Late starts

The MSU lineup for the national anthem looked like half the team was still in the locker room. Eight players. Ouch.

Tonight’s 8:05 tipoff might have some sentimentality for some of you long-time fans. Back in the day — any season prior to the late 1980s, I’m guessing — all men’s home games started at 8:05 p.m.

For me, a young lad of the 1970s, that meant heading to the game with my mom as soon as she got home from school, trying to get in the big parking lot south of Cessna Stadium to find an open space before classes started at 7. We’d find a spot, then head to the Campus Activities Center for a delicious meal at the cafeteria. Amazing how many fans did the same thing — remember, this was about three hours before tipoff. Then we’d head down the hill to the arena when it opened gates at 6 and listen to 100 straight minutes of “Shock Talk” with Mike and Dave.

I’d say I miss the old days, but I don’t. Tom Shupe changed game times to 7:35 in the late ’80s, then Jim Schaus made the move to 7:05 soon after arriving. Newspaper beat writers thank them every chance they get.

7:45 p.m: This game must be on national TV

Three of the Valley’s best officials — and three of the Midwest’s best — are in the house. Mike Sanzere (the shorter guy on your telecast) has worked at least one Final Four, and he’s not even the referee. Paul Janssen and J.D. Collins, the other two, are also top-rate guys.

Yes, this game’s on ESPNU. As Beat Writer Paul points out, the MVC is looking to put its best foot forward. As he didn’t point out, they’re going to have to put that foot out pretty far after ESPN College GameDay was in Carbondale the other day. Oof.

7:35 p.m.: M before S unless it’s after . . . nothing

The banner sticks out there in front of anal-retentive reporters (and fans) like a sore thumb.

Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Illinois State, Indiana State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Missouri State, Wichita . . . WHO DOESN’T KNOW THEIR ALPHABET?

It’s funny when the company that provides this newspaper’s daily line still calls it Southwest Missouri State. It’s acceptable when a school hasn’t gotten around, after two years, to changing the “Southwest Missouri State” banner to “Missouri State.”

But to change the banner on time and then not re-arrange it in alphabetical order, as is the case inside this fair arena, is . . . I can’t quite figure out what it is. It’s not lazy. It’s just a call out to those English 011 professors on campus — somebody inside the Roundhouse needs your help.

7:25 p.m.: Time to rate the Missouri State Bears

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Steak ‘N’ Shake pregame show. We’ll start off with our nightly thoughts on tonight’s opponent and its importance to the Missouri Valley Conference, then follow up with a rant, a fond memory, and other irrelevant stuff. Then we’ll get to the game.

So sit back, wish you had ESPNU, and comment freely. Best comment of the night gets a gift certificate to the Mark Turgeon School of Holding Your Tongue.

Time to rate the Bears. (Or the Basketball Bears, as they say in Springfield.) We rate the school and its importance to the Missouri Valley Conference. We’ll use the following for criteria, giving a maximum of 10 points for each and a minimum of 1.

1. Its national reputation in college basketball. The Bears’ greatest Division I claim to fame was its Sweet 16 appearance in 1999, the year the Valley got three teams in and won two games — both by Missouri State (yeah, it was Southwest Missouri State back then, but one fewer word to type is OK by me). Coincidentally, those two wins also got Steve Alford the heck out of Springfield and to Iowa City, where it’s much colder and he could have much more success — well, half that. At least it’s warmer for Stevie in Albuquerque. Past ‘99, the Bears don’t have a lot of national reps. Charlie Spoonhour was there, so was Alford. After that . . . . 4 points.

2. Where its best players rate historically among the conference’s best. You have 30 seconds to name the five Bears who were first-team All-MVC picks (three were named twice). . . . tick, tick, tick. . . . BUZZ. Time’s up. You got Johnny Murdock because he’s from South High here in River City and he’s probably the best player in the program’s D-I history. You also got Danny Moore not because he was a great player, but because you remember how much better he should’ve been. A 6-10 guy with great hands and nice shooting touch just never seemed that interested. He’s also the answer to the trivia question, “Who did Troy Mack vandalize for 23 points and 22 boards in 1999?” You got Blake Ahearn because it was just last year (and 2006) and he’s like the best FT shooter in the game’s history. The final two escape you, I’m betting: Jackie Crawford, 1991-92, and Terrance McGee, 2002-03. Here’s my point: This is a program that is most times better than worse, yet they do it with a bunch of good but not marquee players. Credit the coaches for getting as much as out Bears players as they can. 4 points.

3. Its home arena. We get to grade the Hammons Student Center before it closes up and they open JQH Arena next door. I always liked Hammons, mostly because it has always been a place where the fans are right on top of you. Students in the end zones, knowledgeable season-ticket folks in the middle. Press row is tightly wedged between the court and first row, and lemme tell ya, those folks in the Ozarks know how to cuss. 7 points.

4. Its home fans. One fan gets singled out tonight. I don’t know his name, but he’s at every game with these professionally-made signs (you’ll also see similar signs at Cardinals home games). Don’t know where the guy finds the time, but he’s always got something relevant to the game. 7 points.

5. Its home city. Springfield is tough to grade only because, as the easiest drive to and from Wichita, I’ve never spent a lot of time there. There was the one time I drove five hours to watch a baseball doubleheader get rained out. But one of the main boulevards in the city is Kansas Ave., so it can’t be all bad. And there’s a Bass Pro Shop, if you’re into that stuff. 7 points.

6. Its mascot and school colors. Bears, maroon and white. Our newsroom’s lone Bears grad, Dan Loving, doesn’t know why MSU has Bears for a nickname. He thinks it may have something to do with the bear being on the state seal. I personally think it’s because John Q. Hammons was a big fan of the 1976 classic “The Bad News Bears.” 4 points.

7. Most colorful players and coaches from the school. Mark Bernsen, who coached from 1992-95, was an uncolorful as could be in Springfield. But Spoonhour (1983-92) is as colorful as they come. Alford brought name recognition to the program in his first D-I job. And Barry Hinson, always a reporter’s favorite for his friendliness, good quotes and desire to have reporters over for backyard barbecues (we scribes love us some barbecue), is a good ambassador for the conference — even though his job is on the line every other week. 6 points.

8. And, finally, a chance to earn 10 bonus points based on none of the above. The Bears get points for Jackie Stiles. They get points from my wife for being so close to the Precious Moments Chapel, just off I-44 on the way to Joplin (we visited there once and I still can’t get it out of my head). Then the Bears LOSE ALL THOSE POINTS AND MAYBE MORE for my running 10-year battle with the school. You see, sometime around 1996, a marketing genius at Southwest Missouri State University decided that it’d be really cool to drop the U in the school’s acronym. SMS. Rolls off the tongue, eh? The folks in Springfield bought into it, and so did everyone else around the conference. I always wondered if everyone would’ve been so easy to adjust to the name if they decided to rename the school “Springfield Center for Cosmotology.” As the WSU beat writer then, I resisted the change. I still typed SMSU, and the guys on the copy desk went along with it. My argument was this: Name another Division I school that drops a letter in its acronym. SC? Yeah, but USC is more recognizable. Could folks in Springfield not get through four letters, only three? So after I became sports editor, SMSU stood in our newspaper. Then two years ago, the university gets its wish and gets to drop “Southwest” from its name, symbolizing the university’s climb to the state’s No. 2 school. So, using the Bears’ logic, their new acronym should be “MS,” right? Oh, they’re going with “MSU?” AHA, I WIN. 0 points.

The Bears check in at . . . 39 points. That puts them in fourth, three more schools (including WSU) to go.

The current standings

Creighton 55

Bradley 54

Illinois State 43

Missouri State 39

Northern Iowa 33

Drake 29