Kennesaw State Owls Defeat Missouri State Bears 90-80
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · VyStar Arena
Kennesaw State Owls 90, Missouri State Bears 80, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Missouri State Bears vs Kennesaw State Owls?
Kennesaw State Owls beat Missouri State Bears 90-80 at VyStar Arena on January 7, 2026.
Who was favored in Missouri State Bears vs Kennesaw State Owls?
Kennesaw State Owls were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -290 (about 74% implied). The favorite won.
In an exciting matchup at VyStar Arena, the Kennesaw State Owls managed to secure a 90-80 victory over the Missouri State Bears. This win marks a significant moment for the Owls, who had been struggling with a four-game losing streak prior to this game. The victory not only boosts their confidence but also improves their overall record to 10-6, while the Bears fall to 9-7.
The Owls entered the game with a home record of 9-6 and had been averaging 84.8 points per game while allowing 79.1 points over their last ten contests. However, their recent form had been concerning, as they recorded a 5-5 record in their last ten games, culminating in four consecutive losses leading up to this fixture. In contrast, the Bears had been on a strong run, winning their last five games and boasting a record of 7-3 in their last ten, with an average of 72.0 points scored and 69.3 points allowed.
Kennesaw State's home performance has been notably better than their away form, with a home record of 4-0 in their last five games. In contrast, Missouri State struggled on the road, recording only one win in their last three away games. The matchup was particularly intriguing given the teams' equal overall records, both standing at 9-6 prior to the game.
In terms of previous meetings, this was a fresh encounter, as both teams had not faced each other recently. The absence of historical context added an element of unpredictability to the matchup. However, the stakes were high for both teams, with Kennesaw State looking to break their losing streak and Missouri State aiming to extend their winning run.
Injury reports indicated that both teams were relatively healthy, which contributed to the competitive nature of the game. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Kennesaw State favored by 6.5 points, with a total set at 152.5. The odds reflected a belief in Kennesaw State's ability to perform at home, despite their recent struggles.
The game conditions were favorable, with both teams able to showcase their skills in front of a home crowd. Kennesaw State's offensive strategy paid off as they capitalized on scoring opportunities, while Missouri State fought hard but ultimately fell short.
Key moments in the game included crucial free throws by Simeon Cottle, who contributed significantly to the Owls' scoring in the second half. His performance, along with contributions from other players, helped Kennesaw State maintain control of the game as they pulled away in the final minutes.
As the game concluded, Kennesaw State's win probability was recorded at 1.0, indicating a definitive end to their losing streak and a significant boost in morale as they head into their next fixtures.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | KENN -6.5 | 152.5 o -112 / u -108 | Missouri State Bears +235 · Kennesaw State Owls -290 |
Leaders
- PointsSimeon Cottle25Kennesaw State Owls
- AssistsSimeon Cottle11Kennesaw State Owls
- ReboundsFrankquon Sherman7Kennesaw State Owls
- PointsMichael Osei-Bonsu20Missouri State Bears
- AssistsKeith Palek III5Missouri State Bears
- ReboundsMichael Osei-Bonsu11Missouri State Bears
Recent form
Kennesaw State Owls
Last 10: 5-5Streak L484.8 scored · 79.1 allowed per game4-0 at home
- L52-67at Delaware Blue HensJan 4
- L73-81at Liberty FlamesJan 3
- L81-92at Alabama Crimson TideDec 21
- L67-68at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersDec 18
- W121-66vs Southern Wesleyan WarriorsDec 8
- W92-69vs Georgia State PanthersDec 6
- W88-73vs Jackson State TigersDec 3
- W102-100at Florida Gulf Coast EaglesNov 27
- L83-91at Oral Roberts Golden EaglesNov 25
- W89-84vs Rice OwlsNov 24
Missouri State Bears
Last 10: 7-3Streak W572 scored · 69.3 allowed per game1-2 away
- W89-82vs New Mexico State AggiesJan 4
- W79-55vs UTEP MinersJan 3
- W61-43at Delaware Blue HensDec 29
- W70-65vs Lindenwood LionsDec 23
- W63-62vs Oral Roberts Golden EaglesDec 17
- L57-75at Xavier MusketeersDec 13
- L74-98at Tulsa Golden HurricaneDec 6
- W92-71vs Northeastern State RiverHawksNov 30
- L61-75vs Long Island University SharksNov 25
- W74-67vs UT Rio Grande Valley VaquerosNov 22
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 26-8 | - | 17-3 |
| Sam Houston | 22-12 | 4 | 13-7 |
| Louisiana Tech | 20-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Western Kentucky | 18-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Middle Tennessee | 17-15 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Kennesaw State | 21-14 | 7 | 10-10 |
| Jacksonville State | 15-17 | 7 | 10-10 |
| New Mexico State | 16-16 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Missouri State | 16-18 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Florida International | 15-17 | 9 | 8-12 |
| UTEP | 11-20 | 8 | 7-13 |
| Delaware | 10-21 | 11 | 6-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Missouri State Bears | Kennesaw State Owls |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-65 | 27-52 |
| Field goal % | 42 | 52 |
| Three-pointers | 8-23 | 11-27 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 41 |
| Free throws | 18-31 | 25-32 |
| Free throw % | 58 | 78 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 19 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 26 |
| Assists | 15 | 19 |
| Steals | 13 | 8 |
| Blocks | 3 | 10 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 18 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 15 |
| Fast-break points | 18 | 12 |
| Points in the paint | 38 | 32 |
| Fouls | 24 | 27 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 21 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 6 | 90 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half47-63Keith Palek III makes layup (Zaxton King assists)
- 2nd Half47-65Frankquon Sherman makes 2-foot dunk (Amir Taylor assists)
- 2nd Half49-65Michael Osei-Bonsu makes layup
- 2nd Half49-67Amir Taylor makes driving layup (Simeon Cottle assists)
- 2nd Half49-69Simeon Cottle makes layup
- 2nd Half49-70Simeon Cottle makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half52-70Antwan Burnett makes 25-foot three point jumper (Keith Palek III assists)
- 2nd Half54-70Tyrique Brooks makes driving layup
- 2nd Half57-70Antwan Burnett makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half59-70Cameron Boone makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half59-71Simeon Cottle makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-72Simeon Cottle makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-72Tyrique Brooks makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-72Michael Osei-Bonsu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-72Michael Osei-Bonsu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-72Michael Osei-Bonsu makes driving layup
- 2nd Half66-72Cameron Boone makes 1-foot dunk (Michael Osei-Bonsu assists)
- 2nd Half66-75Trey Simpson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Frankquon Sherman assists)
- 2nd Half69-75Antwan Burnett makes 25-foot three point jumper (Michael Osei-Bonsu assists)
- 2nd Half69-78Ramone Seals makes 24-foot three point jumper (Perry Smith Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half70-78Keith Palek III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-78Keith Palek III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-79Simeon Cottle makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-80Simeon Cottle makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-80Kobi Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-81Amir Taylor makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-82Simeon Cottle makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-83Simeon Cottle makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-83Michael Osei-Bonsu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-84Frankquon Sherman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-84Trey Williams Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-85Frankquon Sherman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-86Frankquon Sherman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-86Michael Osei-Bonsu makes layup
- 2nd Half77-86Keith Palek III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-87Simeon Cottle makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-88Simeon Cottle makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-88Kobi Williams makes 29-foot three point jumper (Antwan Burnett assists)
- 2nd Half80-89Simeon Cottle makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-90Simeon Cottle makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Kennesaw State Owls, below favours Missouri State Bears.
Venue
- VyStar ArenaKennesaw, GA
- Attendance1235
- OfficialsOlandis Poole, James Curran, Klajdi Mulla
Elsewhere
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