Springfield, Mo. - Joe Wolfinger scored a team-high 18 points and Cameron Wells netted 12 points, in a 72-55 loss to Missouri State at the Hispanic College Fund Challenge. Bears forward Kyle Weems scored a game-high 23 points in the game, leading the second half charge with 16 points.
Wolfinger knocked down 6-of-9 shots from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, while grabbing a team best seven caroms. Wells was successful on 5-of-12 shots from the floor and dished out three assists. Zach Urbanus capped off the Bulldogs leaders in points with eight. Urbanus hit a pair of three-point baskets to move to 158 in his career. The Citadel moves to 2-2 with the loss.
"We knew that Missouri State would be physical and Cameron (Wells) still finished with a good stat line," said head coach Ed Conroy. "He got an early foul in the second half that was a tough call. I was pleased with our team from a tempo standpoint and proud of our guys. It was difficult because we missed a lot of open looks in the first half. Our guys stayed tough, disciplined and managed to do all the things that we set out to do."
Weems, who found his range in the second half, was 8-for-14 in the game and 5-of-7 from the three-point line. He shared team-high rebounding honors, six, with Caleb Patterson. As a unit the Bears hit 18-of-29 shots in the second half, totaling 62.1%. Missouri State hit 7-of-11 (63.6%) from the 3-point line, in the second half, and tallied nine in the game. The Bears improve to 3-0 on the season.
The Bulldogs offense struggled in the first half, converting 8-of-23 shots from the field (34.8%), however the defense shined by holding the Bears to 30.8% (8-26) shooting. Each team was unable to find rhythm from beyond the arc with The Citadel hitting 3-for-11 (27.3%). Meanwhile, Missouri State managed to hit 2-of-7 (27.3%) from 3-point range. The Bears held a slim 26-25 lead heading into halftime coming on a Nafis Ricks free throw with 37 seconds left.
Trailing 22-14 with 5:56 remaining in the first half, a pair of Cosmo Morabbi free throws followed by a Wolfinger trey closed the gap to three points for the Bulldogs in just over a minute of action.
Missouri State held a 25-22 edge at the 1:40 mark when the Bulldogs Daniel Eykyn came off a screen to knock down a three-pointer and knot the game inside one minute to play.
The Citadel returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 24 when they meet eighth ranked West Virginia in Charlestown, W.V. at 7:00 p.m.
