Missouri State basketball started its final season of Missouri Valley Conference play with a home loss to an overhauled Indiana State roster on Saturday night at Great Southern Bank Arena.

The Bears (5-4, 0-1 MVC) fell 80-77 to the Sycamores (6-4, 1-0 MVC) in their lone early-December conference matchup. They will resume league play on Dec. 29 at Evansville. MSU travels to Washington State on Dec. 14.

Missouri State basketball couldn’t overcome Indiana State’s second-half run

The Bears took an eight-point lead early in the second half, but the Sycamores became the aggressor, scoring 11 unanswered. They eventually took a seven-point lead with 10:24 left.

Missouri State climbed back in behind the play of Dez White and Vincent Brady II. The latter made a 3-pointer with 39 seconds left to bring the game within one before the Sycamores responded with an open layup with 13 ticks left, making it a three-point game.

White got an open look at a 3 out of a timeout but missed. Michael Osei-Bonsu got an offensive board and kicked it out to Zaxton King, who missed a fadeaway three at the horn.

Dez White continued to stand out

White continued to play at a high level when coming off an MVC Newcomer of the Week honor. He carried the Bears in the first half by scoring 15 of their 40 points while knocking down three 3’s.

White continued his standout play into the second half, scoring eight consecutive points for the Bears at one point after Indiana State climbed back to take the lead.

White finished the game with 30 points on 9 of 18 shooting while making five shots from deep and five assists.

Vincent Brady II returns to lineup, Mozae Downing-Rivers sits

Brady returned to the starting rotation after missing the previous two games with a minor hamstring injury. He finished the game with 15 points.

Mozae Downing-Rivers, a juco transfer off the bench, was in street clothes for undisclosed reasons.