SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State men's basketball player Nic Tata will forego his final season of eligibility for the Bears to return to his native Australia and pursue a career with the National Basketball League professional circuit there.

Tata, who is from Melbourne, played 20 games for Missouri State during his first season in Springfield in 2020-21. This season, the 6-foot-10 standout played in eight games and converted 58.3 percent of his field goal attempts while averaging 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.

In two seasons, he racked up 53 points and 34 rebounds in 28 games for the maroon and white.

"We wish Nic all the best in his pursuit of becoming a professional basketball player," said Bears head coach Dana Ford. "He has been an absolute joy to coach over the last two seasons."

Tata came to Missouri State after a two-year stint at Blinn College in Texas where he played in 63 games during his tenure there from 2018-20. He came to Springfield in the fall of 2020 and was part of Missouri State's 23-11 season, MVC runner-up showing, and appearance in the National Invitation Tournament in 2021-22.

The NBL is currently composed of 10 teams: 9 in Australia and 1 in New Zealand.