Mason never came out of the game, playing all 45 minutes of the overtime contest, while dishing out 9 assists and burying three clutch triples to help the Bears (12-11, 8-5 MVC) weather a 10-0 run by the Beacons late in regulation.
After a tip-in by Jonathan Mogbo with 6:32 left in regulation gave MSU a 54-51 lead, Valpo went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to lead 61-54 with 3:11 left in the game. Quinton Green caught fire to spark the run by the visitors, pushing home the Beacons first five points of the outburst before Ben Krikke and Nick Ewards followed suit.
But the Bears were game for the fight. Mason and James Graham combined for three 3-pointers over a 90-second span to draw MoState within 65-63 in the final minute. Then after a missed trey by Connor Barrett on Valpo’s last offensive possession, Chance Moore gathered in the rebound and got the ball to Mason who was fouled and sent to the line with 22.5 seconds on the clock.
Mason made both shots to tie the game, 65-65, and the Bears’ defense held up down the stretch, including a last-second block by Mogbo, to force overtime.
In the extra period, Mogbo scored MSU’s first three points to set the pace, then Mason gave the Bears a five-point lead with a reverse layup midway through the extra period. Missouri State’s defense then stepped up again with a steal by Chance Moore, a rebound by Mogbo and a block by Moore giving the Bears the energy they needed to gain separation. Dalen Ridgnal’s tip-in preceded four straight free throws from Moore and Mason to cap a 16-0 run by the Bears and give the home side its biggest lead of the night, 76-65 with 21 seconds left in OT.
The Beacons scored their last basket on a tip-in by Krikke, who led Valparaiso with 19 points, to make the final margin nine points.
After MSU trailed by seven at the intermission, the Bears held Valpo to a combined 13-for-37 (.351) from the field in the second half and overtime, while chipping away at an early rebounding deficit and solid transition game by the visitors early in the game.
Mogbo finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds for Missouri State, his fifth double-double of the season and second in as many games. Moore tallied 16 points off the bench for the Bears and snagged 3 steals.
The Bears finished 27-of-57 (.474) from the field overall, 7-of-21 (.333) from long range and 15-for-23 (.652) at the line with 8 steals and a dozen turnovers.
Valparaiso finished with a narrow 37-36 rebounding edge and finished 27-for-65 (.415) overall from the field, 6-of=29 (.207) from downtown, and 7-of-11 (.636) at the line with 13 turnovers.
In the first half, Valpo used a 12-0 run over five-and-a-half minute stretch late in the half to lead 35-28 at the midway point. A dunk by Mogbo at the one-minute mark preceded a layup from Mason to stop the bleeding and trim MSU’s deficit to five. Then Valpo ended the half with a pair of free throws to lead by seven at midway point, using 16 fast-break points and a 50-percent shooting effort to secure the early advantage.
The Beacons had just two fast-break points in the second half.
The Bears will travel to Southern Illinois on Sunday (1 p.m./Bally Sports) before returning home on Wednesday, Feb. 8 against Belmont at 6 p.m.
