Keith Palek III scored a game-high 24 points and added five rebounds and five assists, but Missouri State could not overcome a second-half surge in an 87-72 loss to Western Kentucky on Wednesday night.The Bears dropped to 10-7 overall and 4-2 in Conference USA play. Missouri State attempted a season-high 35 three-pointers but connected on just nine, shooting 25.7 percent from long range as it tried to rally from a double-digit deficit that lingered for much of the final 15 minutes.
Michael Osei-Bonsu finished with 13 points and seven rebounds for the Bears, going 7 of 9 from the free-throw line.
Western Kentucky, now 11-6 and 4-2 in league play, was led by Teagan Moore with 20 points. Grant Newell added 14 points, and LJ Hackman chipped in 11.
Missouri State trailed 41-34 at halftime but opened the second half with three quick baskets to pull within 43-40 in the first 90 seconds, prompting a Hilltoppers timeout. Palek later converted a three-point play to make it 50-44 with 16:12 remaining.
Western Kentucky responded with an 11-2 run over the next three minutes, stretching the lead to 15. The advantage grew to as many as 19 with nine minutes left.
After missing its first 10 three-point attempts of the second half, Missouri State trimmed the margin to 73-64 with just over six minutes to play on three-pointers from Kobi Williams and Zaxton King. Moore then scored 10 of his 20 points in the final five minutes to seal the win.
Missouri State shot 42.1 percent from the field and 75 percent at the free-throw line, finishing with 30 rebounds, 18 assists and 12 turnovers. Western Kentucky shot 50.9 percent overall, went 7 of 16 from three-point range and converted 24 of 29 free throws.
A late 10-0 run in the first half allowed Western Kentucky to break a 26-26 tie and take control. Newell scored 11 of his points in the final six minutes before the break, including three three-pointers.
Missouri State will continue its four-game conference road trip Saturday at Middle Tennessee. The Bears’ next home game is Jan. 28 against Sam Houston.
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