Bears Drop Sixth Straight Despite Palek's Season-High 29 Points

Late second-chance buckets lift Louisiana Tech over Missouri State 72-70

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Despite a season-high 29 points from Keith Palek III and a double-double from Michael Osei-Bonsu, the Missouri State Bears fell to Louisiana Tech 72-70 on the road, dropping their sixth straight game. The Bulldogs scored two key second-chance baskets in the final minute to overcome the Bears' late lead.

Why it matters

The loss extends Missouri State's losing streak to six games, further damaging their chances of making a postseason tournament. The Bears have struggled to find consistency this season, but Palek's big performance shows they still have talent to compete with top teams in Conference USA.

The details

Louisiana Tech was led by 27 points from DJ Dudley, including the go-ahead basket with 55 seconds left. Palek hit a jumper to tie it at 70-70, but Will Allen scored the game-winner for the Bulldogs with 8 seconds remaining. Missouri State outrebounded Louisiana Tech 35-29 and shot 83.3% from the free throw line, but couldn't overcome the late Bulldog baskets.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
  • Missouri State concludes a three-game Conference USA road swing on Saturday, February 28 at Sam Houston.

The players

Keith Palek III

A Missouri State player who scored a season-high 29 points in the loss.

Michael Osei-Bonsu

A Missouri State player who recorded his fourth double-double of the season in the game.

DJ Dudley

A Louisiana Tech player who led his team with 27 points, including the go-ahead basket late.

Will Allen

A Louisiana Tech player who scored the game-winning basket for the Bulldogs in the final seconds.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This loss extends Missouri State's losing streak to six games, further damaging their chances of making a postseason tournament. However, the Bears' strong free throw shooting and Palek's big performance show they still have the talent to compete with top teams in their conference.