SPRINGFIELD – After missing the past two games with an illness, Donovan Clay racked up a game-high 18 points to lead Missouri State, while Kendle Moore tallied 15 points – all on 3-pointers — in his return to the starting rotation. In addition to his game-winning dunk, Mogbo posted a career-high 19 rebounds to lead all players.
Belmont (17-9, 10-5) got 14 points and three steals from Ben Sheppard with Cade Tyson contributing 12 points for the visitors.
After Clay’s 3-pointer with seven minutes to play gave MoState a 55-53 lead, the Bears never trailed again, but the visitors did not go away. Belmont tied the game three times from there, including a bucket by Even Brauns with 1:30 on the clock that made it a 59-59 contest. After the tying bucket, Brauns went to the line for a chance for a traditional three-point play, but couldn’t convert the “and one” free throw.
The Bears were called for an offensive foul on their next possession and then forced Belmont into two misses on the Bruins’ next trip down the floor before Mogbo cleaned the glass to keep it tied. Missouri State then called a timeout and finished out a crucial sequence with Clay drawing a double team then lobbing the ball to a wide-open Mogbo for the go-ahead dunk with less than 9 seconds remaining.
Missouri State’s defensive pressure forced Belmont into taking its last two timeouts in the deciding moments with the final in-bounds pass from the visitors sailing over the head of Sheppard before the clock expired.
The Bears finished 25-of-58 (.431) from the field and 8-of-25 (.320) from 3-point range. MSU was also 3-of-6 (.500) in limited free throw chances with a 39-30 rebounding advantage, 17 assists and 10 turnovers.
Alston Mason has 6 assists to lead all players, while Clay assisted on 5 baskets for Missouri State.
Belmont was 24-of-56 (.429) overall, 5-of-16 (.313) from long range and 6-of-9 (.667) at the line with 6 turnovers and 7 steals. The Bruins were 2-for-10 from the field over the game’s last seven-plus minutes.
It was the lowest 3-point output by the Bruins since Jan. 29 against Drake.
With the victory, Missouri State improved to 9-3 at Great Southern Bank Arena this season with wins in seven of its last eight home contests. The Bears also picked up a full game on Belmont in the MVC standings but remain two games behind the league front runners – Drake, Southern Illinois and Bradley – which all won on Wednesday.
In the first half, the Bears shot 47 percent from the field and turned the ball over just three times to take a 35-33 lead into the break. Damien Mayo Jr. and Kendle Moore scored 9 points apiece to lead the home side in the opening stanza.
MSU ended the first half on a 7-1 run with a 3-pointer from Kendle Moore, a bucket from Chance Moore and a dunk from Mogbo.
After road games at Evansville on Sunday (1 p.m., ESPN+) and Bradley next Wednesday (7 p.m., ESPN+), the Bears return to Great Southern Bank Arena a week from Saturday (Feb. 18) to host UNI at 3 p.m. on Hall of Fame weekend.
