Missouri
Missouri State basketball pulls off shocking 2OT upset over Valley-contending Drake
Missouri State put its best performance of the season together and came away with a double-overtime thriller against a team contending atop the Missouri Valley Conference.
The Bears (11-9, 3-6) rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to force two overtimes and beat previously Valley-leading Drake (16-4, 7-2) with an 83-80 victory in front of Great Southern Bank Arena’s best crowd of the season on Wednesday night.
Heroics from Alston Mason, Cesare Edwards and Kramer throughout the game led the Bears to an unpredictable upset win. It left many wondering where this has been from the Bears throughout Valley play and if it is sustainable.
Mason finished the game with 36 points with 23 coming in the second half. Edwards finished with 12 points with 10 coming in the two overtime periods. Kramer hit a shot at the end of regulation to force the first overtime.
Previously: ‘I don’t have my team competing’: Missouri State basketball’s free-fall continues in loss
Missouri State basketball started the game on fire
Against a team contending for a Valley championship, MSU went back and forth while playing its most inspiring basketball since non-conference play for the first five minutes of the game.
MSU made its first seven shots. Even when Damien Mayo Jr.’s shot was blocked to end the streak, he got his own rejection and laid it in to continue the Bears’ hot start.
Unfortunately, the Bears couldn’t get many stops of their own. Tucker DeVries, the reigning MVC Player of the Year, scored with ease. Although the defensive intensity was strong on the Bears’ side, they frequently found themselves out of place for the Bulldogs to spot up for open looks.
After Mayo’s jumper fell with 14:53 left in the half, the Bears had their largest lead of the half at three. DeVries sank a 3 in response to tie it.
More: Kaemyn Bekemeier highlights young Missouri State Lady Bears starting to ‘figure it out’
Missouri State goes ice cold to end half vs. Drake
As has been a problem for Missouri State in recent years, the Bears will go several minutes without scoring a point. Their end to the first half was one of their worst droughts yet.
After starting the game 7 for 7 from the field, the Bears made 5 of their last 26 before halftime. The Bears scored 18 points in the first 5:07 and then scored 11 over the final 14:53.
A stretch of 15 missed shots lasted just under eight minutes. It wasn’t until Chance Moore and Raphe Ayres made back-to-back 3’s to stop the bleeding right before the break.
At the same time, Drake built its lead and at one point scored 16 unanswered. DeVries ended the first half with 18 points with three 3’s and the team shot 44.4% from the field for a 42-29 halftime lead.
More: A look at Missouri State’s 3 president finalists through a sports lens
Behind Alston Mason, Missouri State made it a game
Missouri State didn’t lie down and climbed back into the game. Drake started the second half 3 for 12 from the field while Bears standout guard Alston Mason put the team on his back to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to three at the under-12 timeout.
Mason scored 11 of MSU’s first 18 points in the second half including a 3-pointer with 12:26 left to make it a 49-46 game. Hustle plays from Mayo, Nick Kramer and Donovan Clay led the defensive charge to bring the Bears back within a possession.
Nick Kramer hits shot at buzzer to force overtime
Mason scored 12 consecutive points for the Bears until Clay got a layup to fall with 56 seconds left to bring the Bears within two. The Bears forced an airball at the other end as MSU took possession with a chance to tie.
Mason, with 30 points in regulation and 23 coming in the second half, found an open lane and drove to the basket. A layup high off the glass bounced off the rim and out with Drake getting the rebound with 17 seconds left.
The Bulldogs missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving the Bears one last chance to tie it. Mason stepped back for a 3 that was short but Kramer got the rebound. A jumper at the buzzer forced overtime with the game tied at 65.
DeVries was held scoreless in the second half for the Bulldogs.
One overtime wasn’t enough for this game
Both teams hit only one shot through the first four minutes of the five-minute overtime period. Drake led 69-68 with Conor Enright scoring all four of the Bulldogs’ points and Mason hitting a 3 for the Bears.
Missouri State took its first lead since the 14:53 mark in the first half when Mason missed a shot and Kramer got another board. He found Cesare Edwards underneath who scored through contact and finished off a three-point play for a two-point advantage.
Drake big man Darnell Brodie scored at the other end to tie the game. Mason stepped out of bounds in response to give the Bulldogs a shot at winning the game with the shot clock turned off.
At the buzzer, Enright had an open look in the lane but it bounced off the rim and out to force a second overtime.
Missouri State pulls off double-overtime win over Drake
Missouri State scored the first four points of overtime behind buckets from Edwards and Clay — giving the Bears their biggest lead of the game at four.
Drake proceeded to score five unanswered with Kevin Overton hitting a 3 with 2:28 left. Edwards responded with a 3 to put the Bears back up by two. A Brodie free throw cut the lead to one with 1:37 left.
With the one-point advantage, Edwards got an open look in the lane for a layup to go up by three for his seventh point of the second overtime.
Out of a timeout, Drake missed an open look with Missouri State grabbing the board. The Bulldogs sent Mason to the line, who put the game out of reach as the Bears pulled off what seemed like an improbable win.
Up next
The Bears will hit the road for a 3 p.m. game at Valparaiso on Saturday before traveling to Southern Illinois on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest. MSU’s next home game is a 1 p.m. game against Belmont on Feb. 3.
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL.
Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing Options
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 10 arrests across north Missouri between June 19, 2026, and June 21, 2026. The arrests involved allegations including driving while intoxicated, kidnapping, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to maintain a single lane, and outstanding warrants.
It is important to note that, while all the individuals listed below have been reported as arrested, they may not have been physically transported to a detention center. Depending on the circumstances, an individual may be issued a summons, which includes a court date. When the Missouri State Highway Patrol issues a summons with a court date, it is considered an arrest, even if the individual is not physically transported to a detention center.
Noah T. Nims, 35, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was arrested in Buchanan County on June 19, 2026, at 6:14 p.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated, first offense, and failure to maintain a single lane. Nims was held at the Buchanan County Law Enforcement Center on a 24-hour hold.
Jaedyn C. Bacerra, 22, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested in Livingston County on June 19, 2026, at 9:47 p.m. Authorities alleged he was driving while intoxicated. Additional allegations included failure to have two lighted headlamps and failure to equip a vehicle with two approved red taillights. Bacerra was held at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and later released.
Justin F. Myers, 35, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was arrested in Andrew County on June 20, 2026, at 2:11 a.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated as a prior offender and operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident. Myers was released to Mosaic and was listed as released.
Edgar Y. Martinez Ramirez, 36, of Olathe, Kansas, was arrested in Harrison County on June 20, 2026, at 8:46 a.m. He was accused of child kidnapping, a Class A felony; first-degree kidnapping, a Class A felony; and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, a Class D felony. Martinez Ramirez was held at the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department on a 24-hour hold.
Albin B. Kos, 42, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested in Daviess County on June 20, 2026, at 2:23 p.m. Authorities alleged he unlawfully possessed drug paraphernalia as a prior offender, operated a vehicle without a valid driver’s license, and failed to maintain insurance. He was also wanted on misdemeanor Jackson County warrants for failure to appear on charges related to speeding and driving without a valid license. Kos was held at the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail and was listed as bondable.
Andres A. Reed, 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was arrested in Holt County on June 21, 2026, at 1:40 a.m. He was accused of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. Reed was held by the Holt County Sheriff’s Office on a 12-hour hold.
Timothy R. Nelson Ptomey, 32, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was arrested in Buchanan County on June 21, 2026, at 10:11 p.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated, failing to display valid license plates on a motor vehicle or trailer, and driving the wrong direction on a divided highway in a manner that created an immediate threat of an accident. Nelson Ptomey was held at the Buchanan County Law Enforcement Center on a 24-hour hold.
Trace A. Wheeler, 23, of Edina, Missouri, was arrested in Lewis County on June 19, 2026, at 5:39 a.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated and failing to drive on the right half of the roadway in an incident involving an accident. Wheeler was held at the Lewis County Jail and later released.
Shane D. Kurk, 29, of Canton, Missouri, was arrested in Lewis County on June 21, 2026, at 1:31 a.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated. Kurk was held at the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department and later released.
Travis J. Miles, 41, of Shawnee, Kansas, was arrested in Ralls County on June 21, 2026, at 11:28 p.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated and failing to wear a seat belt. Miles was released following his arrest.
Post Views: 1
Related
Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing Options
A powerful search engine that organizes and provides access to vast information on the internet.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A man is dead after an argument inside a south Kansas City home escalated into a shooting overnight, police say.
The Kansas City Police Department says it responded to the 11500 block of Belmont Ave. just before 1 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, after reports of a shooting.
Officers indicate that they arrived to find an unresponsive man inside a vehicle parked in front of a residence. They rendered aid until EMS arrived and took over.
However, the victim was later pronounced dead at a hospital, according to authorities.
Investigators say the victim was inside the home when an argument broke out with one or more people. The confrontation continued as he left the home and got into a vehicle – where he was shot.
One person of interest was detained at the scene. Detectives note that they are not looking for any additional suspects at this time.
The shooting is the latest instance of violence in Kansas City on the first official weekend of summer. On Friday night, one person died and five others were injured in a shooting on 19th Street between Paseo and Vine.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
-
Washington, D.C7 minutes agoAlan Greenspan, the legendary former Federal Reserve chair, dies
-
Cleveland, OH10 minutes ago3 dead in Lakewood double murder-suicide
-
Austin, TX14 minutes agoPOLL: Do you support proposed changes to Texas’ social studies curriculum?
-
Alabama22 minutes agoCrash Closes Crescent Ridge Road Early Monday Morning
-
Alaska24 minutes agoJuneau couple who helped change LGBTQ+ rights in Alaska reflect on living openly and joyfully
-
Arizona30 minutes agoWhere Brayden Burries, Arizona players are projected to land in final NBA mock drafts
-
Arkansas37 minutes agoArkansas Looking To Do Something it Hasn’t Done To LSU Since Nick Saban Was HC
-
California40 minutes agoWhen does California high school football season start? Important dates to know in 2026
