Missouri State 101, Georgia Southern 55

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Blake Ahearn scored 23 points as Missouri State beat Georgia Southern 101-55 in the opening round of the Price Cutter Classic tournament Friday.

Missouri State (3-0) play Texas A&M Corpus Christi (4-1) for the championship Saturday.

Missouri State watched its 46-28 halftime lead evaporate after Georgia Southern (4-3) scored 11 straight points, including six by Louis Graham, to trail 48-39 with 16:35 left.

But three 3-pointers by Ahearn, who was 5-of-9 on 3-point shots, helped the Bears take a 69-47 lead with 10:02 left.

After Sean Olivier scored a basket for Georgia Southern with 9:45 to go to make it 69-49, Missouri State went on a 27-0 run to lead 96-49 with 2:25 left.

Willie Dunn hit two free throws for Georgia Southern with 2:18 to end the scoreless streak.

Missouri State shot 61 percent from the field in the second half and finished with 55 percent for the game. Georgia Southern shot 34 percent for the game.

Tyler Chaney finished with 18 points while Deke Thompson added 16. Kellen Easley and Sky Frazier each had 10.

Graham led Georgia Southern with 18.