MURFREESBORO, Tenn. --  Michael Osei-Bonsu and Keith Palek III scored 20 points apiece, while Kobi Williams added 19 for the visiting Bears, but Middle Tennessee scored seven points in the final two minutes of the second overtime to secure a 90-87 victory.
 
MoState (10-8, 4-3 CUSA) had the ball at the end of regulation with a chance to win it, but Osei-Bonsu's rim-runner at the buzzer bounced out to force overtime. At the end of the first overtime, Palek's second three of the game knotted things up at 78 and ultimately pushed the game into the second overtime.
 
After Antwan Burnett's triple drew Missouri State within 88-87 with a minute to go in the second overtime, MSU forced a Middle Tennessee shot clock violation with 28 seconds remaining. Playing for the win again, the Bears turned to Palek whose mid-range jumper rimmed out, and he committed a foul trying to corral the miss. MTSU's Jahvin Carter subsequently made two free  throws with eight seconds on the clock to put the Blue Raiders up by three. On their final possession of the game, the Bears got the ball in the hands of Trey Williams Jr. whose desperation three was off target to end the crazy back-and-forth battle.
 
The game included 12 ties and a dozen lead changes.
 
Missouri State finished the game 30-of-69 (.435) from the field, but outscored MTSU 32-30 in the second half while allowing the home club just eight field goals in the final 20 minutes of regulation. The Bears were also 11-for-25 (.440) and 16-for-26 (.615) at the line with 33 rebounds 16 assists and 10 steals.
 
Palek's 7 assists led all players, while his 8 rebounds was tops on the MSU roster.
 
Middle Tennessee (11-7, 5-2 CUSA) was 29-for-55 (.527) overall, including 63.6 percent in overtime. The home squad was 14-for-28 (.500) from beyond the arc and 18-of-23 (.783) at the line with 36 rebounds, 18 turnovers and 10 blocks.
 
The Blue Raiders, who took over sole possession of second place in CUSA, were 5-of-5 at the stripe in overtime and were led by Torey Alston's game-high 22 points with Kamari Lands scoring 21.
 
In the first half, Kobi Williams hit a pair of clutch threes, and Keith Palek had a timely steal, layup and free throw with less than a second to go in the period to draw the visitors within 38-36 at the intermission.

Cameron Boone eclipsed his career high with 7 first-half points, while Michael Osei-Bonsu was 4-of-7 from the field for 8 points.
 
Williams' first three knotted the score, 24-24, at the 9:07 mark before giving the Bears the lead on the very next possession with a short jumper. Later, his three ball ended a 12-4 MTSU run and pulled the visitors within 36-33 with less than two minutes to go before the break.
 
MTSU shot 61 percent from the field in the first half and made 7 threes while dishing out 10 assists.
 
Cuonzo Martin's Bears continue their four-game conference road swing next Thursday at New Mexico State for an 8 p.m. (Central) showdown with the Aggies on CBS Sports.
 
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.