Momentum was short-lived for the Missouri State basketball team.
After a promising near-miss against a strong Illinois State team, then a come-from-behind victory at Drake, the Bears went to Peoria, Illinois, on Wednesday night, and stumbled badly.
The Bears fell back into danger of playing in the Thursday play-in round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, dropping a 77-68 decision to the Braves.
It’s an effort that left coach Paul Lusk searching for answers.
“I can’t defend the way we performed,” Lusk said on his postgame radio show. “Can’t defend it, I’ll leave it at that.