TULSA – Missouri State made a season-high 13 threes and converted 49 percent from the field, but home-standing Tulsa was equal to the task here Saturday with five players scoring in double figures to send the Bears home with a 98-74 setback.
Kobi Williams made 7-of-10 field goals and three triples to lead the Bears with 20 points, while Keith Palek III added 15. Trey Williams Jr. and Zaxton King also scored in double figures for Missouri State with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
David Green led Tulsa with 17 points.
The Bears (4-4) were within 32-28 of the home club after a Trey Williams triple with 7:14 to go in the first half. But Tulsa (8-1) ended the half on a 16-4 surge to lead 48-32 at the intermission and stretched things out to 20 just a minute into the second half.
Despite shooting 58.3 percent from the field in the second half, Missouri State would get no closer than 19 the rest of the game. Tulsa took full advantage of its abundance of free throw opportunities during the second stanza, making 17-of-21 over the last 20 minutes, as part of a 50-point half.
The Bears finished 25-of-51 (.490) overall from the field, 13-for-26 (.500) from long range and 11-of-19 (.579) at the foul line with 26 rebounds and a dozen assists.
Tulsa was 30-for-63 (.476) overall, 14-for-33 (.424) from bonus distance and 24-for-30 (.800) at the line with 42 rebounds, 19 assists and 8 steals.
In the first half, Tulsa used an 11-1 surge over the last five minutes to lead 48-32 at the midway point. The Golden Huricane made 9 triples by six different players and out-rebounded the Bears by a 23-14 margin in the half.
A fast-paced start favored the Golden Hurricane saw the home side bury three triples before the first media timeout to take a 13-6 advantage. MoState stayed in the hunt with a pair of treys by Trey Williams Jr. in that span.
Tulsa built its lead to seven on four occasions before Palek and Kobi Williams led the Bears’ early resurgence. Kobi’s transition layup drew the Bears within 17-16, and later a three by Darrion Sutton got MSU within 20-19.
A Green trey before the under-eight media timeout extended a 27-24 Tulsa lead to six. Trey Williams was able to get the Bears within 32-28 at the 7:14 mark but the rest of the period went to the home side which forces six MSU turnovers.
MoState will now prepare for a voyage to Xavier on Friday, Dec. 12 for a nationally-televised game (6 p.m., truTV). After finals, the Bears are back at Great Southern Bank Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 16 to square off with another Tulsa squad, Oral Roberts, at 7 p.m.
