SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Marcus Marshall scored 19 points in helping Missouri State survive a late comeback by SE Missouri State and winning 81-78 in a nonconference thriller on Sunday.
Missouri State (10-2) led 32-24 at halftime by controlling the boards (24-14) and grabbing six more offensive rebounds than the Redhawks.
The Bears upped that lead to 20 in the second half before SE Missouri (8-5) staged a late-half attack.
Trailing 77-76 on a Jamaal Calvin layup with 25 seconds left, Jarekious Baradley’s jumper tied the score at 78 after Marcus Mashall missed one of two free throws for Missouri State. But Dorrian Williams then hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for the Bears to avoid overtime and win by three.
Missouri State opens Missouri Valley Conference play with Illinois State on Jan. 2, while SE Missouri State starts their Ohio Valley Conference schedule against Murray St. that same day.
