GAME NOTES: The Missouri State Bears and the Washington State Cougars will battle for fourth place in the Great Alaska Shootout when the two teams square off at the Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday.

After suffering from a 76-61 setback against Colorado State on Thursday, the Bears edged event host Alaska Anchorage on Friday (55-51). They are now 3-2 overall, with the win over the Seawolves being their first true road win. They will host Arkansas-Little Rock in their first game after this tournament.

Washington State had an even tougher time in the first round of the Shootout, falling in a 71-43 final against UC Santa Barbara on Thursday. They nearly let a 12-point lead slip away in the second half on Friday, but a 76-74 win over Rice allowed the Cougars to bounce back. They are now 2-3 overall with back- to-back home games against Idaho and Texas-San Antonio next on the schedule.

Missouri State defeated Rice, 105-82, in the only previous meeting between the two during the 2004-05 season.

Even though Missouri State only made 35.8 percent of its field goal tries, including a dismal 2-of-16 showing from 3-point range, it was enough to take down Alaska Anchorage. The Bears held their hosts to just 29.8 percent shooting, while logging a 40-36 advantage on the glass. Dorian Williams scored a game-high 19 points, coming up with five steals in the process, to lead the way.

Missouri State's opponents haven't had much success offensively. The Bears are allowing only 59.8 points per game on 37 percent field goal efficiency. Unfortunately, the Bears' own offensive success (67 ppg, .423 FG percentage) has left something to be desired. Of course, it did not help that Marcus Marshall (26 ppg) missed his second straight game on Friday as he continues to deal with a strained quadriceps. Without Marshall, Austin Ruder (8.8 ppg) and Williams (8.6 ppg, 3.6 apg) are the best hopes the Bears have in terms of scoring. Not a single player on the roster besides them is scoring more than six points per game.

After pulling ahead by as many as 12 points in the second half against Rice, the Cougars nearly let it slip away, as they were up by only two points with eight seconds to play. However, DaVonte Lacy saved the day by sinking a pair of free-throws at the other end, rendering Max Guercy's last-second layup irrelevant. Lacy finished with 15 points in the game, but it was Josh Hawkinson who powered the offense, netting 27 points.

After managing only 43 points against UCSB, the 76-point showing against the Owls was a welcome sight for the Cougars, who are averaging just 61 points per game on 35.9 percent shooting. Hawkinson (15.2 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 2 bpg) has done all he can to keep his team competitive, scoring at will and eating up rebounds. He has had at least eight rebounds in every game this season and has netted at least 25 points twice. His 27 points against Rice were an excellent recovery from the mere three he managed on Thursday. Lacy (14 ppg) can be counted on to score as well.

When Lacy and Hawkinson are both scoring well, the Cougars can be a feisty bunch. Against a Missouri State squad with a lack of offensive options, they could be downright dominant.