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VALPARAISO, Ind. – Missouri State junior Keandre Cook's two free throws with 2.3 seconds left in overtime lifted the Bears past Valparaiso, 55-54, here Tuesday in MSU's third straight Missouri Valley Conference victory.
 
Cook posted a game high for the third straight contest with 17 points for Missouri State, which improved to 11-11 overall and 5-4 in the MVC at the league's halfway point. Jared Ridder added 13 points, and Josh Webster scored 12 for the visitors.
 
The Crusaders (12-10, 5-4 MVC) were led by Javon Freeman with 12 points and Bakari Evelyn with 11.
 
Cook scored Missouri State's last four points in the extra period to overcome a three-point deficit in the final two minutes of overtime.
 
With Valpo holding a one-point lead on its final possession, Missouri State's defense forced the home team into its third shot clock violation of the game, turning the ball back to the Bears with 12.7 seconds to go.
 
MSU turned to Cook who was hacked by Jaume Sorolla on his drive to the basket. Cook calmly stepped to the line and drained both charity shots with 2.3 seconds remaining, and Valparaiso's desperation shot at the buzzer was well off target.
 
The victory was MSU's third conference road of the season.
 
After being tied at the half, Missouri State opened its biggest lead of the night less than five minutes into the second period when Ridder dropped in his third 3-pointer of the game to push the visitors ahead 34-29.
 
Valparaiso answered with seven straight points to lead by two, but at the 11:33 mark, Ridder dropped in another triple, then made it a four-point play with the ensuing free throw to put the visitors back on top, 38-36.
 
The Crusaders rallied with a 7-3 run of their own over the game's next four-and-a-half minutes to lead 43-41 with freshman Daniel Sackey scoring twice in the Valpo outburst.
 
But Cook retaliated for MSU with a 3-pointer from the right wing to give Missouri State a 44-43 advantage with 5:17 to go.
 
Neither team scored again until the seven-footer Sorolla hit a left-handed hook shot at the three-minute mark to put the home team up 45-44, and Deion Lavender added a pair of free throws to give the Crusaders a three-point advantage with 1:39 left in regulation.
 
But once again, Cook had the answer, knocking down a triple with a hand in his face at the 1:11 mark to knot the score, 47-47.
 
Ryan Kreklow gave Missouri State a lead briefly with a pair clutch foul shots with 35 seconds to go, but Valparaiso tied it 15 seconds later with on the late-game bucket by Sackey.
The Bears had the final shot of regulation, but Cook's drive to the basket through heavy traffic was snuffed out by the Crusaders.
 
In an otherwise lackluster first half, Missouri State went on a 9-2 run over the last three minutes of the opening period to tie the game, 25-25, at the intermission. 
 
Neither team led by more than three until Valparaiso used a 9-0 outburst to go from a 16-14 deficit to a 23-16 lead over a three-minute span. Treys by Mileek McMillan and Evelyn sandwiched a traditional 3-point play by Freeman to put the home side up by seven with 3:30 left before the break.
 
But Missouri State rallied late, getting four points from Jarred Dixon, a 3-pointer by Ridder and a layup at the rim by Josh Webster at the horn down the stretch to even things up.
 
For the game, Missouri State shot 30.9 percent (17-of-55) from the field and 7-of-17 (.412) from long range. The Bears were out-rebounded 37-35, but converted 14-of-16 (.875) at the foul line and turned the ball over just 10 times.
 
Valpo made 38.8 (19-of-49) percent from the field, 4-of-12 (.333) from long range and 12-of-20 (.600) at the stripe with 11 turnovers.
 
The Bears wrap their two-game league road swing Saturday at UNI with a 7 p.m. tipoff from McLeod Center in Cedar Falls. Missouri State returns to JQH Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 6 to battle rival Southern Illinois in a regionally-televised showdown.
 
Tickets for the SIU game are available now at MissouriStateBears.com or by visiting the Old Missouri Bank Box Office at JQH Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.