Cuonzo Martin and the Bears forge their identity

Missouri State University senior guard Chase Martin is blocked by Indiana State University freshman Jayan Walker on Dec. 7, 2024, in a Missouri Valley Conference game. The Bears fell 77-80.After four straight wins in November, Coach Cuonzo Martin and his Missouri State Bears jumped out to a promising 4-1 record to start the 2024-25 basketball season.

A decisive victory over the Division II Missouri Southern Lions, a triple-overtime thriller over the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes, a come-from-behind triumph to outlast the University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks and a win in the Bears’ inaugural game of the Cayman Islands Classic over the High Point Panthers gave fans plenty to be excited about…