SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State (1-0) got 22 points from Michael Osei-Bonsu and 21 more from Keith Palek III to turn back visiting Missouri Southern, 88-70, here Tuesday in the season opener for the Bears.
 
Osei-Bonsu collected a career-high 14 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, as part of his ninth double-double as a Bear. MSU also got 14 points from Kobi Williams and 10 more from freshman Trey Williams Jr.
 
Missouri Southern, coached by former MoState staffer Sam McMahon, was led by Tyrone Wright's 21 points with Jaden Taylor pitching in 14.
 
The Bears overcame a three-point halftime deficit with a 13-3 run to start the second half. Palek scored the go-ahead layup less than a minute into the period and then reeled off 9 points in five minutes to push the maroon side up 53-46 at the 14:56 mark.
 
MoState maintained that margin until the midway point of the second period when Cuonzo Martin's defense kicked things into high gear with 10 minutes to go. A 20-6 surge by the Bears over the next six minutes stretched their lead to 80-61 with 4:28 remaining as Osei-Bonsu registered 6 points in that span, while Trey Williams Jr. and Darrion Sutton added four apiece.
 
Sutton, who finished with 9 points and 8 rebounds off the bench, gave MSU its largest lead of the night, 84-63, with just over three minutes to play with a short jumper off the glass.
 
By the time the smoke cleared, the Bears held the Lions to just 28.2 percent shooting in the second period, including 1-of-12 from three-point range, while collecting 30 rebounds and allowing the Lions just 4 second-chance points in that span.
 
Osei-Bonsu was Missouri State's top assist man with a game-high 5 dimes to go with an 11-for-15 shooting night, 3 blocks and a pair of steals.

The Bears finished 33-of-79 (.418) overall from the field, 5-of-31 (.161) from distance and 17-for-21 (.810) at the stripe with a 53-42 rebounding advantage. Martin's squad posted 52 points in the paint and exchanged 21 offensive caroms for 24 second-chance points. MSU also committed just 8 turnovers on the evening.
 
The Lions were 29-of-73 (.397) overall from the field, 6-for-23 (.261) from beyond the arc and 6-of-12 (.500) at the line with a dozen turnovers.
 
Missouri Southern sprinted to a 43-40 lead at the intermission, shooting 53 percent from the field in the opening half and capitalizing on 26 points in the paint to take the early advantage.
 
The Lions led by as many as 10 after a layup by Brayden Williams at the 6:15 mark made it a 34-24 game. But the Bears stormed back over the last six minutes of the stanza with Osei-Bonsu accounting for 6 points on a 16-9 run for the home side.
 
Osei-Bonsu had 14 points and 7 rebounds in the first half alone, while Wright's 17 points – on 8-of-9 shooting in the first half – kept the visitors ahead by a nose at the midway point.
 
Missouri State continues its three-game home stand to begin the season on Saturday at 7 p.m. when the Bears entertain Northwestern Oklahoma State. Tickets for the Saturday matchup and all home games are available at MissouriStateBears.com/tickets or by visiting the Missouri State Athletics Box Office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.
 
A complete list of season promotions and ticket specials is also available at MissouriStateBears.com/promotions.
 
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