SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - Kyle Weems scored 16 points and led Missouri State to a 70-53 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore in the first round of the Hispanic College Fund Challenge.

The two teams were tied at 26 at halftime, but Missouri State (2-0) scored eight points in the first 2:54 of the second half to lead 34-29.

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Eastern Shore (0-2) closed the margin to 38-36 with 14:28 left before Missouri State went on a 14-7 run, and Eastern Shore could not get any closer than 52-43.

Missouri State shot 55.6 percent from the field in the second half while Eastern Shore shot 36 percent. Adam Leonard, who hit two critical 3-pointers early in the second half, finished with 11 points for Missouri State.

Hillary Haley and Kevin White each had 11 points for Eastern Shore and Mark Robertson added 10.