Missouri

Missouri State basketball pulls off shocking 2OT upset over Valley-contending Drake

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

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.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 3, 2026

Published

6 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 3, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 3 drawing

07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 3 drawing

Midday: 5-8-9

Midday Wild: 8

Evening: 8-8-2

Evening Wild: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 3 drawing

Midday: 0-3-5-7

Midday Wild: 2

Evening: 0-9-9-5

Evening Wild: 6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 3 drawing

Early Bird: 13

Morning: 15

Matinee: 09

Prime Time: 14

Night Owl: 14

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 3 drawing

04-07-09-17-21

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Missouri

Missouri auditor to probe St. Louis arts funder after whistleblower complaint

Published

18 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Missouri auditor to probe St. Louis arts funder after whistleblower complaint

Missouri state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has launched a review of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis’ finances.

The audit is in response to complaints from a whistleblower who alerted the office to possible misuse of funds, Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. The auditor’s office then reviewed documents provided by RAC during an initial investigation before launching a full audit.

“We have verified the veracity of the whistleblower complaint, and have seen with our own eyes at this point records that give us enough concern that we want to proceed with an audit,” Fitzpatrick said.

The auditor’s report could be released late this year or in early 2027, he added. It would then be up to state and local authorities to follow up on any potential misconduct.

In an unsigned statement, RAC said it receives an annual audit from a firm selected by the offices of the St. Louis mayor and St. Louis County executive and that it shares the results publicly. “[We] are confident the findings from the state will mirror the success we have come to expect at the local level,” the statement says.

“We welcome the opportunity to provide documentation and context regarding our financial practices and grantmaking processes. As always, RAC will continue to focus on serving the St. Louis region’s arts and cultural community and maintaining the public’s trust,” the statement adds.

Potential issues identified in the state auditor’s initial investigation include the possibilities that RAC’s administrative expenses exceed what is allowed by statute, that leaders issued bonuses disallowed by the state constitution and that large grants were issued with no follow-up to ensure the money was used properly.

Fitzpatrick said his actions are not related to the commission’s choice of grant recipients.

Changes to the grant process

RAC distributes annual grants to arts organizations in St. Louis and St. Louis County. It is funded by a tax on hotel and motel stays. The commission distributed $3.7 million last year.

The organization suspended grant applications for fiscal 2026 due to “continuing financial volatility” and a new five-year plan, according to a note on its website. It will use applications received in 2025 as a guide for its 2026 grants.

Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis

Vanessa Cooksey took leadership of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis in 2021.

“This pause allows RAC to support eligible and high-scoring 2025 grantees and applicants while navigating financial challenges and planning for a stronger, more sustainable grant program in the future,” the note says.

RAC publishes a list of its annual grants online.

Vanessa Cooksey became president and CEO of the organization in 2020 after it spent a year without a permanent leader. Previous chief Felicia Shaw had stepped down in November 2019. Neither Shaw nor RAC provided a public explanation for Shaw’s departure.

Some smaller organizations had complained that during Shaw’s tenure they stopped receiving annual grants.

The Regional Arts Commission had a $13.4 million budget in 2024, according to tax documents. Cooksey received a $196,253 salary and $28,652 in additional compensation.

Continuing a process begun by Shaw, Cooksey oversaw changes to grant applications that she said were meant to simplify the process – including removing a longstanding split between its funding mechanisms for large and small organizations.

A key arts funder after the coronavirus pandemic

In November 2022, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to direct $10.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to RAC. A measure that would have allocated another $1.6 million failed to pass the St. Louis County Council, so RAC was statutorily required to distribute ARPA funds only to groups based in St. Louis.

RAC has distributed $9.5 million of the ARPA money so far, funding 195 individual artists and 75 organizations.

Arts leaders said in 2022 that the sector supports more than 19,000 jobs and generates nearly $600 million a year – more than all local sports franchises combined.

The federal money was a boon to St. Louis artists and arts organizations following a steep decrease in funding at the height of the coronavirus pandemic due to decreased tourism in the region.

Tax revenues earmarked for RAC decreased from $9.5 million in fiscal 2019 to $2.8 million the next year. Tax revenue directed to RAC have increased but still lag behind the pre-pandemic total. The commission reported $7.5 million in tax revenue received in fiscal 2024.

RAC presented a new five-year plan with much fanfare in March 2020 but had little initial opportunity to implement it. Not long after, St. Louis officials put limits on public gatherings to tamp down spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Commission officials released a new five-year strategic roadmap in December 2025.

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Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 2, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 2, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 2 drawing

02-17-18-38-62, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 2 drawing

Midday: 3-3-4

Midday Wild: 2

Evening: 4-8-9

Evening Wild: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 2 drawing

Midday: 6-4-2-2

Midday Wild: 5

Evening: 2-8-2-4

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 2 drawing

Early Bird: 08

Morning: 12

Matinee: 05

Prime Time: 04

Night Owl: 02

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 2 drawing

13-17-18-23-28

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 2 drawing

21-28-58-65-67, Powerball: 25

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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