Springfield Standard

Missouri State University's men's basketball team will continue its three-game home stand on Saturday, November 8, facing Northwestern Oklahoma State at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:02 p.m. Central Time and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the Bears Radio Network.

This matchup marks the first meeting between Missouri State and Northwestern Oklahoma State since 1946. The Bears currently lead the all-time series 4-0, with previous games played primarily at neutral sites in the 1930s and one on-campus meeting in 1946.

Northwestern Oklahoma State, located in Alva, Oklahoma, competes in NCAA Division II as a member of the Great American Conference.

Missouri State enters the game with a record of 1-0 after defeating Missouri Southern earlier this week. Senior Michael Osei-Bonsu recorded a career-high 14 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards—the most by a Bears player since Alize Johnson achieved that mark in December 2016. Senior transfer Keith Palek III scored 21 points in his debut for Missouri State, while Osei-Bonsu added a game-high 22 points. This was the first time two Bears scored at least 20 points each in a game since January of this year.

The team attempted 31 three-point shots against Missouri Southern, matching last season's high from a game against Bradley. Despite having eleven new players this season, Missouri State's roster has considerable NCAA experience with a combined total of 444 games played and over four thousand career points among them.

Head coach Cuonzo Martin is leading the team during his second stint at Missouri State. He returned to the program after being announced as head coach on March 27, 2024. Martin previously coached at Missouri State from 2008 to 2011 and led the Bears to their only MVC regular-season championship during that period. Over his career as a Division I head coach—which includes stops at Tennessee, California, and Missouri—Martin has accumulated nine postseason appearances across various tournaments.

Under Martin’s leadership at home venues like Great Southern Bank Arena, he holds an overall record of .729 (52-19). His teams have performed strongly when scoring seventy or more points per game.

Freshman point guard Trey Williams Jr. made an impact in his debut with ten points and five rebounds over thirty-three minutes played against Missouri Southern. Georgia Tech transfer Darrion Sutton contributed off the bench with personal bests of nine points and eight rebounds.

Missouri State University emphasizes accessibility for fans attending games at Great Southern Bank Arena; those needing accommodations are encouraged to contact the Deputy Compliance Officer for assistance.

The next scheduled game for Missouri State is against Arkansas State on Tuesday, November 11.