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Springfield – Donovan Clay added a game-high 18 points to lead Missouri State after missing the past two games with an illness, while Kendle Moore scored 15 points — all on 3-pointers — in his return to the starting lineup. In addition to the game-winning dunk, Mogbo had a team-high 19 rebounds to lead all players.
Belmont (17-9, 10-5) got 14 points and three steals from Ben Sheppard and Cade Tyson contributed 12 points for the visitors.
The Bears never trailed again when Clay’s 3-pointer with seven minutes left in the game gave Mostett a 55-53 lead. Belmont then tied the game three times, with an Even Brauns bucket with 1:30 on the clock to make it a 59-59 contest. After the tying bucket, the Browns drove to the lane for a chance at a traditional three-point play, but failed to convert the “and-one” free throw.
The Bears were called for an offensive foul on their next possession, forcing Belmont to miss two before Mogho cleaned the glass on the Bruins’ next down. Missouri State called a timeout, and Clay drew a double-team and kicked the ball wide to Mogbo with less than 9 seconds left to complete the crucial sequence.
Missouri State’s defensive pressure forced Belmont to punt the final two periods in the deciding period, before the visitors’ final possession cruised over Sheppard’s head before the clock expired.
The Bears finished 25-of-58 (.431) from the field and 8-of-25 (.320) from 3-point range. MSU also went 3-of-6 (.500) on limited-mission shooting opportunities with a 39-30 rebounding advantage, 17 assists and 10 turnovers.
Alston Mason has 6 assists to lead all players, while Clay has 5 assists for Missouri State.
Belmont was 24-of-56 (.429) overall, 5-of-16 (.313) from long range and 6-of-9 (.667) at the line with 6 turnovers and 7 steals. The Bruins were 2-for-10 from the field in the last seven-plus minutes of the game.
It was the Bruins’ lowest 3-pointer since Jan. 29 against Drake.
With the win, Missouri State improved to 9-3 this season having won seven of its last eight home contests at Great South Bank Arena. The Bears took a full game against Belmont in the MVC standings, but remain two games behind the league’s front-runners — Drake, Southern Illinois and Bradley — all of whom won Wednesday.
In the first half, the Bears shot 47 percent from the field, committed just three turnovers and took a 35-33 lead into the break. Damien Mayo Jr. and Kendall Moore each scored 9 points.
MSU finished the first half on a 7-1 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Kendall Moore, a bucket from Chance Moore and a dunk from Mogbo.
After Sunday in Evansville (1 pm ESPN+) and Bradley next Wednesday (7 pm ESPN+), the Bears will return to the Great South Bank Arena on Saturday (February 18) to face UNI at 3 pm in the Hall of Fame weekend.
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