Missouri St defeats Oral Roberts 63-62

Missouri St Edges Oral Roberts in Thrilling Home Victory

In a heart-stopping, back-and-forth contest, the Missouri State Bears (63) outlasted the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (62) at Great Southern Bank Arena on Thursday night.

The home crowd watched in awe as the Bears took an early 30-24 lead into halftime, but it was Oral Roberts that would prove to be the more resilient team. The Golden Eagles narrowed the deficit to just one point by the end of the game, with a final score of 63-62.

Missouri State's Keith Palek III was nearly unstoppable on both ends of the floor, scoring 27 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the process. His all-around performance marked one of his most impressive outings this season.

Palek III's ability to control the tempo of the game was a key factor in the Bears' victory. He played smart defense, forcing Oral Roberts into several tough shots, while also making crucial plays on offense when needed.

On the other side, Oral Roberts' Ty Harper had an outstanding game for his team, netting 20 points and grabbing one rebound. The Golden Eagles struggled with consistency, shooting just 36% from the field, but still managed to stay in the game despite the cold shooting.

The Bears' defense was the key differentiator in this matchup. Missouri State's ability to hold Oral Roberts to just 44.7% eFG% compared to the Golden Eagles' 46.5% eFG%, gave them a crucial edge in terms of efficiency and productivity on offense.

This win marks an important milestone for the Bears, who now move back into contention with their non-conference schedule continuing.