Missouri State basketball stomped by Illinois State in program’s Arch Madness, MVC finale

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Missouri State basketball finished its run in the Missouri Valley Conference with a blowout defeat in its last Arch Madness appearance.

The Bears lost 70-54 to Illinois State on Thursday afternoon in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament in St. Louis. They will join Conference USA in 2025-26.

Cuonzo Martin, in his first year back as head coach after leading the team from 2008-11, delivered one of the worst seasons in the program’s history. An overhaul of the roster is expected heading into the new league.

This year’s team finished last in the conference standings and posted a 9-23 record. This is the first time the Bears have finished a season with single-digit wins in their Division I era.

COMMENTARY ON MSU: Was this the worst Missouri State basketball season in the program’s history?

Missouri State basketball blown out in final game as MVC member

The Bears took a three-point lead after Vincent Brady II drained a 3-pointer with 11:39 left in the first half. The Redbirds proceeded to score 24 of the half’s final 30 points to take a 15-point lead. It didn’t get better after that.

Poor shooting and a flurry of first-half turnovers doomed the Bears. Michael Osei-Bonsu was the only Bear to shoot more than two shots who finished above 50% from the field.

The fifth-seeded Redbirds will play fourth-seeded Belmont on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

What will next year’s Missouri State basketball roster look like?

Expect a lot of transfer portal activity from the Bears, both departures and additions. At the top of their needs list is “everything.”

There are a few who could be worth carrying over into a new league ― Osei-Bonsu, Zaxton King, Dez White, Makhai Valentine, Brady and maybe some others ― but most will have to accept smaller roles.

So far, the Bears have a pair of high school signees committed. Trey Williams Jr., out of Vashon, could be the best high school prospect the Bears have landed since Dana Ford earned commitments from Isiaih Mosley and…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/missouri-state-basketball-stomped-illinois-222828272.html

Author : Springfield News-Leader

Publish date : 2025-03-06 22:28:00

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