For a half on Monday night, Missouri State appeared to be a well-oiled machine, doing exactly what it wanted against an overmatched Chicago State team.
Then, for the second consecutive game, the Bears’ engine seized up in the second half at JQH Arena.
The result was a victory, a 66-46 decision over the Cougars.
It didn’t come without its rough moments, when Chicago State, which lost a 109-61 game to DePaul on Saturday and was picked for last in the Western Athletic Conference in the preseason poll, cut a 21-point Missouri State lead to 10 with about nine minutes to play.