SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Adam Leonard scored 15 points to lead Missouri State to a 64-51 victory over Southern Illinois on Wednesday night.
Will Creekmore and Kyle Weems added 13 apiece and Caleb Patterson 10 for the Bears (14-3, 6-0), who won their eighth in a row and sit alone atop the Missouri Valley Conference. Weems had three steals, and Jermaine Mallett had three assists.
The Salukis (9-8, 3-3) got 18 points and 17 rebounds from Mamadou Seck. Carlton Fay scored 13; no other Saluki had more than six.
The difference came at the foul line. Southern Illinois outscored Missouri State 46-42 from the field, but the Bears made 22 of 28 free throws to the Salukis' 5 of 7.
Both teams had 31 rebounds and 14 turnovers.
An 18-2 spurt put Missouri State ahead to stay 28-14 with 7:19 left in the first half.
The Bears have won 18 straight at home.
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