CHICAGO – Missouri State held UIC without a field goal for nearly 13 minutes in the second half and took the lead on a Chase Martin layup with 2:05 to play. However, the Flames closed out the game on an 8-2 surge to snag a 63-58 decision over the Bears here Sunday in an MVC defensive slugfest.
The Bears (9-18, 2-14 MVC) were led by Michael Osei-Bonsu who was 10-for-20 from the field for 21 points in his second 20-point effort of the season. Vincent Brady II added 14 points for MoState, which out-rebounded UIC by a 33-30 margin.
After a bucket from Modestas Kancleris gave UIC (15-11, 8-8 MVC) a 47-39 lead to match its largest of the game with 13:54 to play, the Bears held the Flames without a field goal until the final minute of the contest. UIC was 0-for-10 during that stretch, clinging to its advantage by going 10-for-13 from the free throw line in that stretch.
Meanwhile, the Bears chipped away with Jalen Hampton knotting things at 54 with 3:56 to go and Martin giving the Bears their first lead since the 15:51 mark of the opening half.
Former Bear Tyem Freeman had UIC’s only other basket over the last 14 minutes of the game after Kancleris’ shot, gathering in an offensive rebound and putting it back in with 56 seconds remaining to make it 59-56 at the time. The Flames tacked on three more free throws in the final 24 seconds to put it out of reach.
Dez White narrowly missed a pair of potential game-tying 3-pointers on Missouri State’s final possession of the afternoon.
Behind Osei-Bonsu, the Bears scored 40 points in the paint for the third time in six games, and finished 25-of-54 (.463) overall. MoState also dished out 16 assists and racked up 11 steals.
The Bears struggled from distance, making just 1-of-11 (.091) from 3-point range and were 7-for-12 (.583) at the foul line.
Martin pitched in 9 off the bench for Missouri State.
Meanwhile, UIC got 16 points from Javon Jackson who was 7-of-7 at the free throw line, while Kancleris scored 13.
The Flames finished 19-of-49 (.388) overall from the field, 3-for-16 (.188) from three and 22-for-27 (.815) at the line with 25 bench points.
In the first half, the Bears shot an even 50 percent and got 10 points from Osei-Bonsu, but trailed 35-30 at the midway point thanks in part to 10 points from UIC’s Jackson.
Missouri State led 10-4 out of the gates with Brady and Osei-Bonsu leading the early change before the Flames reeled off 10 unanswered points in the span of four key minutes to swipe the lead away. The Bears tied the game, 16-16, on an Osei-Bonsu layup at the 10-minute mark, but were unable to catch UIC the rest of the half. UIC used a 7-0 surge and a clutch three from Jackson to gain its largest lead of the half, 31-23 at the 3:13 mark before MoState ended the stanza on a 7-4 run.
The Bears continue their two-game road swing on Wednesday at Valparaiso (7 p.m.) before returning to Great Southern Bank Arena on Saturday, Feb. 22 for a 7 p.m. Senior Day contest against Illinois State.
