Missouri State Bears Upset Top-Seeded Liberty in CUSA Tournament

Senior Michael Osei-Bonsu scores career-high 31 points to lead the Bears to the semifinals.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:45pm

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In a major upset, the Missouri State Bears defeated the top-seeded Liberty Flames, 77-69, in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament. Led by senior Michael Osei-Bonsu's career-high 31 points, the Bears became the first No. 9 seed to advance to the CUSA semifinals since 2018.

Why it matters

This victory is a significant accomplishment for the Missouri State program, as they were able to knock off the tournament's top seed. It also marks the first time since 2018 that a No. 9 seed has made it to the CUSA semifinals, showcasing the parity and competitiveness of the conference.

The details

Missouri State senior Michael Osei-Bonsu had a career night, scoring 31 points to lead his team to the upset victory over Liberty. The Bears were able to overcome the Flames, who were the tournament's top seed, and advance to the semifinals where they will face the winner of the LA Tech vs. Middle Tennessee game.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, March 12, 2026 in the Conference USA Tournament quarterfinals.
  • The Missouri State Bears will play in the semifinals on Friday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Michael Osei-Bonsu

A senior on the Missouri State Bears basketball team who scored a career-high 31 points in the upset victory over Liberty.

Liberty Flames

The top-seeded team in the Conference USA Tournament who were upset by the Missouri State Bears in the quarterfinals.

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What they’re saying

“This was a huge win for our program. We knew we had to play our best to beat the top seed, and the guys really stepped up today.”

— Dana Ford, Missouri State Head Coach

What’s next

The Missouri State Bears will face the winner of the LA Tech vs. Middle Tennessee game in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals on Friday, March 14, 2026.

The takeaway

The Missouri State Bears' upset victory over the top-seeded Liberty Flames showcases the parity and competitiveness of the Conference USA Tournament, as a No. 9 seed was able to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2018.