SPRINGFIELD – Seven Bears scored in double figures and Missouri State shot 53 percent from the floor Saturday afternoon in a wild 111-106 triple-overtime victory over Tulsa at GSB Arena. Chase Martin’s traditional 3-point play with 3:16 remaining in the third overtime put the Bears up for good in a game that they held the lead for more than 44 minutes.
MoState’s 111 points are the most the team has scored since putting up 118 against Kentucky Wesleyan on March 6, 1976, and Tulsa’s 106 ties the most ever allowed by MSU in a victory with a 130-106 triumph over Central Missouri on Feb. 8, 1975. It was the first triple overtime game for MSU since an 80-77 home win over Bradley on Feb. 25, 2015.
In fact, Missouri State (2-1) owned a 73-60 lead with 4:30 remaining after Dez White’s 3-pointer, but went cold from the field after that with only two free throws in the remainder of regulation. Tulsa (3-1) closed on a 9-0 run and then scored the first five points of overtime for a 14-0 run and 80-75 lead with 4:01 on the clock.
White hit a go-ahead trey for 85-82 with 45 seconds remaining and Tulsa hit a half court shot at the buzzer to force a second overtime tied at 87.
The second overtime was played within one possession in its entirety, with a Golden Hurricane free throw with 35 seconds left forcing the 95-95 deadlock.
Martin’s and-1 broke a 98-all tie with 3:16 left in the third extra period, White followed with a jumper for 103-98 and the Bears led by at least three points the rest of the way.
White led the Bears with 20 points, followed by Martin with 18, including seven in the third OT. Michael Osei-Bonsu had 17, Vincent Brady II added 15, Jalen Hampton score 14, Zaxton King had 13 and Mozae Downing-Rivers scored 10.
MoState held Tulsa to 35-for-89 (.393) shooting and 6-for-26 (.231) from beyond the arc. The Bears owned 52-51 rebounding edge.
The Bears stay home for a 7 p.m. Tuesday contest with UT Arlington.
