Furious comeback falls short for Bears at Liberty

Missouri State trailed by 20 points with 12 minutes remaining before mounting a furious comeback down the stretch.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Missouri State trailed by 20 points with 12 minutes remaining before mounting a furious comeback down the stretch and drawing within two points of the lead in the final minute, but ultimately fell to CUSA leader Liberty, 79-76.

Why it matters

This game highlights Missouri State's resilience and ability to mount a comeback, even against a top conference opponent. However, their inability to complete the comeback raises questions about their ability to close out tight games against elite teams.

The details

The Bears (13-10, 7-5 CUSA) got a game-high 25 points from Keith Palek, including three triples, to go with 9 rebounds. MSU also got 16 points and 9 boards from Michael Osei-Bonsu and 11 points from Kobi Williams. Brett Decker paced four Liberty players in double figures with 20 points, while Zach Cleveland produced a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, in leading the Flames (20-3, 12-0 CUSA) to the 20-win mark.

  • The Flames' Zach Cleveland's dunk at the 12-minute mark of the second half gave Liberty a 66-46 lead, their largest of the afternoon.
  • In the final 20 seconds, Keith Palek made two more free throws to make it a two-point game before MSU was whistled for a foul to stop the clock with 10.8 ticks showing.

The players

Keith Palek

A Missouri State player who scored a game-high 25 points, including three 3-pointers, and had 9 rebounds.

Michael Osei-Bonsu

A Missouri State player who scored 16 points and had 9 rebounds.

Zach Cleveland

A Liberty player who produced a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

Brett Decker

A Liberty player who paced four Liberty players in double figures with 20 points.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Bears now return to Great Southern Bank Arena to begin a three-game home stand on Thursday against LA Tech at 7:30 p.m. for a nationally-televised game on CBS Sports Network.

The takeaway

This game showcases Missouri State's ability to mount a furious comeback, but also highlights their struggles to close out tight games against elite conference opponents like Liberty. The Bears will need to learn how to finish strong if they want to make a deep postseason run.