Bears Drop Heartbreaker at the Buzzer in Normal

Box Score | Season Stats | Tickets for UIC Game
 
NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State’s Johnny Kinziger hit a jumper with 0.5 seconds left in the game to spoil a stellar comeback in the final five minutes by Missouri State here Wednesday as the Redbirds stole a 75-74 decision at CEFCU Arena.
 
The Bears got a clutch basket from Alston Mason with 8.7 seconds left to put the Bears up 74-73 and close out an impressive 15-4 surge by the visitors in the game’s final 5:15. But ISU got the ball across mid-court and called a timeout with 2.7 seconds left to set up the dagger play at game’s end.
 
Mason and Donovan Clay each had 21 points to lead Missouri State, while N.J. Benson posted 20 points and 14 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. Damien Mayo Jr. was also in double figures with 12 points.
 
The Bears (15-15, 7-12 MVC) converted 7 of their last 9 field goals down the stretch and shot an impressive 52.5 percent from the field for the game (32-of-61).
 
After MoState led by six with 49 seconds left in the opening half, the Redbirds (15-15, 9-10) reeled off 12 unanswered points to end the first half and start the second. By the time  Mayo scored with 16:50 left in the game, the Redbirds had taken a 42-36 advantage.
 
The Redbird lead grew to seven three times before the under-eight media timeout when Mason scored three-pointers from beyond the arc and in the traditional way to trim the deficit to 56-54, then 60-57.
 
Illinois State responded with another 9-2 surge over the next three-minutes to grow its lead to double figures for the first time, 69-59, with 5:15 to go.
 
That’s when the Bears stormed back with Benson scoring twice, Clay scoring off his own miss, Mason knocking down his third trey of the night and Clay converting a layup with 1:43 remaining to make it a one-point game. Finally, with Benson’s bucket up close, the Bears regained the advantage, 72-71, at the 51-second mark. ISU retook the lead on a pair of foul shots from Kendall Lewis with 23 seconds to play, but Mason kept his composure under duress and got the bucket and the roll with 8.7 ticks remaining before the final shot by the home side.
 
In addition to shooting 50 percent from the field, Missouri State was 5-of-20 (.250) from long range, 5-of-6 (.833) at the line and owned a 36-28 rebounding advantage with Mason dishing out 5 of the team’s 12 assists.
 
ISU was 28-of-61 (.459) overall from the field, 7-of-22 (.318) from three and 12-of-14 (.857) at the line with 18 assists.
 
Kinziger and Malachi Poindexter each had 20 points for ISU with Lewis scoring 10 points and snagging 10 rebounds, while Myles Foster had 16 points and 11 boards.
 
In the first half, Illinois State led by as many as seven, but the Bears won the last five minutes of the period to go into the intermission with a 36-33 lead.
 
The Bears turned 9 offensive rebounds into 15 second-chance points in the opening stanza, with Damien Mayo Jr. snagging 4 offensive boards and Benson pulling down 3.
 
MSU returns to Great Southern Bank Arena for its regular-season finale on Sunday, March 3 to take on UIC at 1 p.m. on Fan Appreciation Night and Senior Night. Tickets for the UIC game are available at MissouriStateBears.com or by visiting the Great Southern Bank Box Office, (417) 836-7678, during regular business hours.