Box Score

Bolivar, Mo. - The SBU Bearcats went up against the Missouri Southern State University Lions and fell 80-70. The loss drops them to 10-15 (5-14 MIAA) on the season.

Missouri Southern jumped to an early 9-0 lead but the Bearcats fought back and a Cartier Dean 3-pointer put them on the board with 17:12 on the clock. After a layup by the Lions, Marley Biyendolo was able to find Logan Hovey in the paint who scored with a layup bringing the score to 11-5 MSSU. The Lions scored 4 more points before SBU scored with a jumper from Theo Oghide. After a single free throw by MSSU, the Bearcats went on a small 5-0 run with shots from Nate Nahirny and Brian Patterson to pull within 5 (17-12) with 10:00 left on the clock. After the next couple shots landed for both teams, the game went scoreless for over 2 minutes before Biyendolo hit a 3-pointer to put the score at 19-17, MSSU. The Lions went on their own 5-0 run to extend their small lead over the Bearcats 24-17 with 5:41 left in the half. The scoring went back and forth with MSSU remaining in the lead. Despite multiple shots from Kai Woodfall and Damian Prgomet landing, SBU would head into the half trailing 26-39.

A 5-0 run by MSSU opened up the second half but Dean would respond with a layup quickly followed by a free-throw from Hovey bringing the score to 44-29 MSSU. The Lions scored on a layup but Dean would pass it out to Patterson who scored on a 3-pointer with 16:22 left in the game. The scoring went back and forth with MSSU continuing to hold the lead over SBU. After a small 4-0 run by the Lions, the Bearcats fought back and went on a 6-0 run with shots from Dean, Patterson, and Nahirny to diminish the Lion lead 56-44 with 10:36 on the clock. A short time later, Biyendolo scored on a layup which was followed up by a 6-0 run by the Bearcats putting the score at 64-52. SBU put up another 7 points before the Lions went on a 8-0 run (76-58 MSSU). Despite outscoring the Lions in the final few minutes of the game 12-4, the Bearcats would fall 80-70.

Cartier Dean tied his career high and had a team high 17 points. Close behind him was Kai Woodfall and Brian Patterson both with 11 points apiece, Nate Nahirny chipped in 9 points, and Logan Hovey narrowly missed a double-double with 8 points and a team high 10 rebounds. As a team, SBU shot 35.2% from the field, 41.7% from behind the arch, and 73.3% from the free-throw line.

The Bearcats will face off against Pitt State for their final home game on Saturday, February 20th. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the Meyer Sports Center.