VALPARAISO, Ind. – Missouri State made six more field goals than its foe and out-rebounded Valparaiso by 18 only to see the Beacons steal a 66-64 victory from the visiting Bears here Wednesday.

All Wright scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the final 6:39, including the game-winning scoop layup with 2 seconds left. He was held to 6-of-15 from the field but like the rest of the Valpo brood, made hay at the line where he was 9-of-10.

Valparaiso (12-16, 5-12 MVC) was a hearty 24-of-31 (.774) from the foul line for the game, including 13-for-15 in the second half.

Vincent Brady II led three Bears in double-figures with 17 points, while Jalen Hampton and Michael Osei-Bonsu each contributed 12 points with Osei-Bonsu adding game-highs 9 rebounds and 4 assists.

Osei-Bonsu's layup with 6:39 to play gave MoState (9-19, 2-15 MVC) a 55-46 lead.

Wright then responded with a 3-pointer and a layup to trim Valpo's deficit to five before Wesley Oba's dunk pushed the Bears' lead back to 57-51 at the 5:26 mark. Wright then got to the line for three free throws, making all of them, before his third triple of the game gave the Beacons a 59-57 lead.

The Bears would tie it on a pair of free throws from Brady and jumped ahead, 61-59, on a tip-in by Hampton with 2:02 to play. Wright's ensuing three-point play swung the lead back to the home side briefly before Dez White hit a pair of charity shots at the 1:33 mark to push the visitors on top for the last time, 63-62.

In the final minute, Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro made two foul shots to put the Beacons up by one before Hampton tied for the ninth time, making on one-of-two at the line with 26.8 seconds to go.

But Wright's running scoop shoot just before the buzzer was the difference and sealed Vapo's comeback. 

The Bears finished 25-for-61 (.410) from the field, 5-for-23 (.217) from long range and 9-for-14 (.543) at the line with a decisive 44-26 rebounding advantage and 12 assists.

Valpo was held to 19-of-47 (.404) from the field, 4-for-19 (.211) from three and had just 8 assists and 5 turnovers with its 24 free throws making the difference.

In the first half, the Bears used a 13-2 run over a five-minute stretch to lead by 10 with 3-pointers by Jalen Hampton, Logan Epes and Dez White sparking the outburst. By the time the smoke cleared with 2:49 left in the stanza, the visitors had a 30-20 advantage.

Valparaiso ended the opening period on a 6-0 run, collecting two of its seven first-half field goals in the final two-plus minutes to draw within four at the break. MoState held the Beacons to 7-of-23 (.304) from the field in the first 20 minutes, including a 2-for-14 stretch.

The Bears return to Great Southern Bank Arena on Saturday, Feb. 22 for a 7 p.m. Senior Day contest against Illinois State. 

Tickets for the Illinois State game, and both remaining home games, are available at MissouriStateBears.com/tickets or through the Missouri State box office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.