Missouri State Bears Defeat Jacksonville State Gamecocks 74-67

Keith Palek III scores 18 points to lead the Bears to victory in Conference USA matchup.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:55pm

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The Missouri State Bears defeated the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 74-67 in a Conference USA basketball game on Saturday. Keith Palek III led the Bears with 18 points and 6 assists, while Trey Williams Jr. added 14 points and Kobi Williams scored 13 points. Jacoby Hill paced the Gamecocks with 16 points and 2 steals, while Iaroslav Niagu and Jaye Nash also scored in double figures.

Why it matters

This victory keeps the Missouri State Bears in the hunt for a top spot in the Conference USA standings, as they improve to 13-9 overall and 7-4 in conference play. The loss drops Jacksonville State to 11-10 on the season and 6-4 in league play.

The details

Missouri State took the lead midway through the first half and never trailed again. The Bears used a 9-0 run in the second half to build a 17-point advantage before holding on for the 74-67 win. Trey Williams Jr. led the Bears with 8 first-half points as they took a 39-31 lead into the break.

  • The game was played on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Keith Palek III

A key player for the Missouri State Bears, scoring 18 points and dishing out 6 assists in the victory.

Trey Williams Jr.

Contributed 14 points for the Bears, including 3 three-pointers.

Kobi Williams

Scored 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting for Missouri State.

Jacoby Hill

Led the Jacksonville State Gamecocks with 16 points and 2 steals in the losing effort.

Iaroslav Niagu

Added 13 points for the Gamecocks in the Conference USA matchup.

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The takeaway

This was an important conference win for the Missouri State Bears as they look to secure a top spot in the Conference USA standings. The Bears' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense proved too much for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks to overcome on this night.