SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State overcame a dozen-point deficit in the second half to take the lead into the final two minutes against Kennesaw State here Wednesday, but the visiting Owls rode the shoulders of R.J. Johnson down the stretch to steal a 91-87 decision from the Bears in a rugged Conference USA matchup.
Johnson racked up a game-high 29 points for KSU, including 10 points in the final five minutes and seven points in the decisive last two minutes of the game to give the visitors their first February victory. He led four Kennesaw State (15-11, 7-8 CUSA) players in double figures and went 4-for-5 from long range in the two-and-a-half-hour battle that featured 50 fouls and 73 free throws.
The Bears (13-13, 7-8) showed resolve after falling behind by 10 points at the midway point of the contest before the deficit grew to 53-41 before the first media timeout of the second half.
Michael Osei-Bonsu started inching Missouri State closer with a layup and three-point play to get the home squad within seven at the 16-minute mark. Later, it was freshman Melakih Cunningham who gave the Bears a spark off the bench with a 3-pointer and dunk before Darrion Sutton’s layup on a pass from Keith Palek III made it 61-57 at the under-12 timeout.
Just before the eight-minute break, Cunningham’s second three of the night made it a 66-65 game with the Great Southern Bank Arena gathering sensing a Bears comeback in the making.
Finally with 2:16 to play, it was fellow MSU freshman Trey Williams Jr. who got the Bears over the hump with his fifth triple of the game to give the home club an 83-82 edge. Johnson then buried a three for Kennesaw State to push the visitors ahead by two before free throws from Osei-Bonsu and Kobi Williams tied the game up again, 85-85, with 1:30 to go.
Johnson and Frankquon Sherman then did just enough for the Owls to steal the victory. The Kennesaw tandem combined to make 4-of-6 free throws in the final 80 seconds with Johnson hitting a key jumper late in the shot clock with 40 seconds remaining.
Trey Williams kept Missouri State’s hopes alive with a spinning jumper with just over 10 seconds showing on the clock to return it to a one-possession contest, but Johnson’s final charity shot of the night put the game on ice.
Both Palek and Osei-Bonsu led Missouri State with 20 points apiece, with Palek contributing 6 rebounds, 7 assists and a pair of steals. Trey Williams added a career-high 19 for the Bears to go with 3 assists and no turnovers, and Kobi Williams scored 13.
Cunningham also scored a career-high with 11 points and 5 rebounds.
The Bears registered 30 points in the paint and used a 55-percent shooting effort in the second half to finish 26-of-55 (.473) from the field, 9-for-24 (.375) from three, and 26-of-39 (.667) at the foul line with 18 assists and 9 turnovers.
Missouri State’s 24 fouls and 39 free throw attempts were both season highs.
Kennesaw State was 27-for-56 (.482), 14-for-26 (.538) from long range, and 23-for-34 (.676) at the foul line. The Owls, who also got 18 points from Sherman matched MSU opponent highs for the season in 3-pointers and free throw attempts and surpassed an opponent high-water mark for accuracy from beyond the arc.
In a fast-paced first half, the Owls shot 57 percent from three and racked up 11 second-chance points to lead 44-34 at the break. Missouri State drew within four on four occasions only to be answered with a Kennesaw State 3-pointer each time.
Jaden Harris had 9 points, all on threes for the visitors, while the Bears got 13 points from Palek who drew eight fouls in the opening 20 minutes.
Missouri State now begins a three-game road swing to begin the regular-season stretch run, starting Saturday at FIU for a 2 p.m. (Central) tip. The Bears will return home for two games in early March, including a rematch with WKU on Thursday, March 5 (7 p.m.) and senior day against Middle Tennessee on March 7 (2 p.m.)
