Box Score | Season Stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Senior Kurt Koenig led the Bearcats with 19 points, but SBU struggled to contain the Lions' 72% shooting (36-for-50), as the 'Cats drop their first conference game of the year to Missouri Southern, 98-81.

SBU held a 13-point lead midway through the first half, when Nick James connected on one of his five three-pointers of the night. James finished with 17 points, and his performance behind the arc matches his career best of five treys against St. Mary's (Kan.) earlier this season. The Lions would go on a 13-0 run to tie the game at 36-36, just before the end of the first half. Another three from James, preceded by a three-pointer from Tre Smith, gave the Bearcats a 42-36 lead at the break.

The 'Cats controlled the lead throughout early part of the second half, but the Lions chipped away until finally breaking through, taking a 57-56 lead with 13:14 left in the game. SBU would re-take a 70-69 edge with a layup from Koenig, but Missouri Southern would finish the last six minutes on a 19-11 run to take the win.

Mount Vernon products Tomas Brock and Zach Kleine each scored 12 points, while Brock also dealt out seven assists.

The Bearcats' seven-game winning streak comes to an end with the loss, as SBU falls to 7-4 on the year, and 4-1 in the MIAA. The 'Cats will break for Christmas, then come back against Emporia State on January 1st. "Next game, we need to be focused," said head coach Jeff Guiot after the game. Tipoff in Emporia will be set for 7:30 p.m.