The Missouri State men’s basketball team fell to the Illinois State University Redbirds 70-54 on Thursday, ending the team’s season having played just one game in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
MVC Tournament first round: Illinois State 70, Bears 54 (Eliminated)
The Bears went out ahead early in the first half with a 7-1 offensive run, but two treys and a layup by Redbirds’ sophomore guard Johnny Kinzinger quickly narrowed the gap just six minutes into the first half.
The teams stayed relatively close in score, but ISU grabbed the lead with around 11 minutes left in the half and never surrendered it again.