WEST PLAINS, Mo. — Polk State Basketball's rally came up short on Friday night. The Eagles suffered their first loss of the season, falling to host Missouri State University-West Plains to open the West Plains Grizzly Tournament, 92-83.
Polk State started strong. An
Ethan Simon slam got the scoring started as the Eagles (4-1) raced to a 13-5 lead. West Plains answered with a 29-12 run, but the final 90 seconds of the first half belonged to Polk State.
Eric Dailey scored the final 10 points of the half, which included a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Polk State a 35-34 lead at the break. The Grizzlies scored the first 11 points of the second half to go ahead for good.
West Plains led by as many as 15 points in the second half but Polk State refused to go quietly. A 3-pointer by
Tre Jackson capped an 11-2 run that pulled the Eagles to within four at 75-71 with three and a half minutes remaining. Polk State, however, could get no closer.
Dailey led Polk State with a career-high 32 points. Jackson added 24 points, which included six made 3-pointers.
Elijah Lubsey and
Jordan Bryant each added six points.
Off its first loss, Polk State will try to salvage a split during its trip to Missouri and get its first win over a nationally ranked team under Head Coach Marreese Speights on Saturday when it takes on No. 24 Moberly Area Community College. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT.
