SPRINGFIELD, Mo. _ The red-hot Missouri State Bears shot down the shorthanded University of Central Arkansas Bears 106-70 in non-conference action on Saturday night at JQH Arena.

The home Bears (8-4) connected on 16 of 32 from three-point range and had three players with at least four threes. MSU shot a blistering 67.6 percent in the second half, including 11 made three-pointers, to break open a 15-point game at halftime. MSU outscored UCA 61-45 in the second half.

"I thought our defense was actually pretty good,' said UCA head coach Anthony Boone, "especially the first half. I think we pressured out better this game than we have. I told the guys it was evident because they were taking threes from 6, 7, 8 feet behind the line, because we had them running their offense a lot farther out.

"They just happened to be able to knock those shots down. And there's not much we can do about that when they are making shots like that.'

UCA, playing without six players due to a combination of injuries and illness, had not played in 14 days after a 10-day break for final exams and a cancellation by Little Rock on Tuesday. The purple Bears shot a respectable 44 percent from the field, made 17 of 18 at the free-throw line and limited their turnovers to just 11.

But they could not keep up with the hot-shooting home Bears, who finished with four players in double figures, including 28 points from leading scorer Isiaih Mosley and 14 each from Ja'Monte Black, Gaige Prim and Jaylen Minnett.  

UCA also had four in players in double figures, including a third double-double of the season, and second consecutive, by junior Darious Hall with 18 points and 10 rebounds (8 of 8 at the foul line) despite battling foul trouble throughout the game.

Sophomore Jaxson Baker, coming off the bench for the first time this season, found his shooting touch with 13 points and made a three of UCA's three-pointers. Freshman point guard Camren Hunter, also with foul issues, added 16 points, while graduate forward Jared Chatham added 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocked shots for the Bears.

"I thought Jaxson showed a lot of maturity, a lot of courage to come in in a different role but was very effective,' said Boone. "His most effective game this year, I thought, especially shooting the ball. And making a couple of moves off the bounce in the post, too. He showed a wide array of what he can do.'

UCA returns home for a Monday matinee matchup with crosstown Hendrix at noon on Scottie Pippen Court at the Farris Center. It will be just UCA's second home game of the season.