BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Missouri State senior Keith Palek III scored a game-high 24 points to go with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, but it was not enough for the visiting Bears here Wednesday in an 87-72 loss to Western Kentucky.
 
The Bears (10-7, 4-2 CUSA) attempted a season-high 35 three-point shots, but made just nine (25.7 percent) in their effort to cut into what was a double-figure deficit for most of the game's final 15 minutes.
 
Michael Osei-Bonsu added 13 points and 7 rebounds for the Bears, including 7-of-9 free throws.
 
WKU (11-6, 4-2 CUSA) was led by Teagan Moore's 20 points, while Grant Newell scored 14, and LJ Hackman tallied 11.
 
After trailing by seven at the half, Missouri State closed the deficit to 43-40 on three quick field goals in the opening 90 seconds of the second period – two by Palek and one by Osei-Bonsu to force a Hilltoppers timeout. Palek's second bucket of the half made it a 43-40 game with 18:39 to play.
 
Later, Palek's traditional three-point play at the 16:12 mark drew the visitors within 50-44. 
 
But WKU embarked on a decisive 11-2 run over the next three minutes to lead by 15, an advantage that swelled to as many 19 by the nine-minute mark.
 
MoState missed its first 10 three-point shots of the second half, but inched closer when it finally found its mark with Kobi Williams knocking down two, and Zaxton King hitting another to time WKU's advantage to 73-64 with just over six minutes remaining.
 
But Moore helped the home club finish things out, scoring 10 of his team-high 20 in the final five minutes.
 
For the game, the Bears were 24-of-57 (.421) from the field and 15-for-20 (.750) at the line with 30 rebounds 18 assists and 12 turnovers.
 
WKU finished 28-of-55 (.509) from the field, 7-for-16 (.438) from distance and 24-for-29 (.828) at the stripe with 34 caroms, 8 turnovers and 8 steals.
 
In the first half, a 10-0 WKU run late in the half broke up a 26-26 tie and pushed the Hilltoppers to a 41-34 lead at the intermission. Grant Newell scored 11 of his 14 first-half points in the last six minutes of the stanza to help ignite the run, including three triples.
 
The Bears got 7 points from Palek in the opening 20 minutes with MSU out-rebounding the Hilltoppers by an 18-15 margin in that stretch.
 
Kobi Williams' three-pointer from the left corner with 1:47 remaining in the first half drew the Bears within 38-32 at the time and pushed him to 1,000 career points.
 
Cuonzo Martin's Bears continue their four-game conference road swing Saturday at Middle Tennessee (5 p.m.). The squad's next home game is on Wednesday, Jan. 28 vs. Sam Houston (7 p.m.) with a special halftime performance by the Master of Simon Sez Steve Max.
 
Tickets for the Sam Houston game, and all remaining home games, are available at MissouriStateBears.com/tickets or through the MSU Athletics Box Office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular office hours.
 
A complete list of season promotions and ticket specials is also available at MissouriStateBears.com/promotions.