The Missouri State Bears suffered a challenging defeat at Belmont, resulting in a 7-11 season record in the Missouri Valley Conference and securing a losing season for the first time under the leadership of head coach Dana Ford. The team’s defensive struggles persisted, leading to their fifth loss in the last six games and dashing their hopes of obtaining a winning record in Valley play this season.
Despite achieving a shooting percentage of over 50% in the first half, the Bears found themselves trailing by eight points at halftime. The situation deteriorated as they struggled to defend against Belmont’s 3-point shooting, allowing the Bruins to increase their lead in the second half. The Bears’ inability to make defensive stops and establish offensive consistency ultimately resulted in their defeat.
Belmont’s Cade Tyson and Ja’Kobi Gillespie emerged as formidable opponents, collectively scoring 49 points in the game. The Bruins concluded with 16 successful 3-pointers, underscoring Missouri State’s defensive vulnerabilities. On the Bears’ side, Matthew Lee and Chance Moore led the scoring with 18 points each, closely followed by Alston Mason with 17 points.
With this loss, the Bears have solidified their losing season in MVC play, a disappointing outcome for a team that was anticipated to achieve a higher ranking at the season’s onset. Notwithstanding this setback, the Bears still have two games left before the Arch Madness tournament on March 7. Their forthcoming game against Illinois State will be pivotal as they strive to conclude the regular season on a more positive note.
Looking ahead, the Missouri State Bears will need to regroup and refocus in preparation for their upcoming challenges. While this season may not have unfolded as envisioned, there is still potential for the team to finish strongly and reverse their fortunes in the forthcoming games.
For further updates and insights on Missouri State basketball, be sure to stay tuned for upcoming games and the latest news from the Springfield News-Leader. Follow reporter and columnist Wyatt D. Wheeler for comprehensive coverage and analysis of the team’s journey throughout the remainder of the season.
Contact Wyatt D. Wheeler at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @WyattWheeler_NL for all the latest Missouri State basketball updates.