SectionsBluejays can't reach the Bears
Bears now tied for fourth in MVC, improve to 16-8
Jon Poorman
Issue date: 2/9/10 Section: Sports
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"For us, that's what I'm accustomed to seeing defensively," coach Cuonzo Martin said. "I want to be a really good scoring team, to score the basketball with guys that can make plays, but I also want to be a good defensive team."
The Bears' held Creighton to a 36.5 shooting percentage for the game on defense, while on offense they shot 50.9 percent. This year, the Bears are 11-0 when shooting a better percentage than their opponent.
Forward Kyle Weems said the Bears' performance was correlated to the teams' energy from start to finish.
"It was good for us to come out in the first four minutes with a lot of energy, a lot of focus and kind of maintain it throughout the whole game," Weems said.
The win for the Bears came after a tough road loss to Southern Illinois last week. Forward Will Creekmore explained a players-only meeting is what really got the team back on track after the loss.
"After the SIU game, it was a real gut check for us," Creekmore said. "We met as a team, just players only and basically re-dedicated ourselves to playing the way we know how to play which is all-out intensity and I think it showed tonight."
Against Creighton, the Bears were led by Creekmore, who tallied 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.
"He's playing with a lot of confidence," Martin said. "He's brought a lot of energy. He's probably our leader at this point in the locker room. Whenever you have a guy step up like that and take leadership on, I think you can get to that next level."
Creekmore has scored in double digits in five of the last six games, averaging 13.3 points per game in that stretch. He has also been the team's second-leading rebounder in those games, grabbing 6.1 boards per contest.
Martin explained Creekmore has the right qualities to be a leader for the Bears.
"One thing our guys know is Will Creekmore wants to win," Martin said. That's what it comes down to. He's a true competitor."
Four Bears scored in double figures for the game including Creekmore, Justin Fuehrmeyer (12), Kyle Weems (11) and Adam Leonard (11).
Jermaine Mallett and Nafis Ricks also made solid contributions to the win, each posting nine points. Mallett led the team with eight rebounds, and Ricks added six rebounds and three assists.
For Fuehrmeyer, a senior, the win was special because it was the first time he's beaten Creighton since coming to Missouri State.
"It's a great feeling," he said. "It seems every year we have close games with them, and they always come up on top. It feels great here at home to get the win over them."
The Bears will try to even out their conference record tomorrow against Southern Illinois at 7:05 p.m. at JQH Arena.
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