Missouri State Bears basketball Men's basketball team of Missouri State University
Missouri State Bears University Missouri State University First season 1908 Athletic director Kyle Moats Head coach Cuonzo Martin Conference Missouri Valley Conference USA in 2025–26)Location Springfield, Missouri Arena Great Southern Bank Arena Nickname Bears Student section The Cave Colors Maroon and white[ 1]
1959*, 1967*, 1969*, 1974* 1959*, 1967*, 1969*, 1974* 1958*, 1959*, 1967*, 1969*, 1974* 1958*, 1959*, 1966*, 1967*, 1968*, 1969*, 1974*, 1978*, 1999 1958*, 1959*, 1966*, 1967*, 1968*, 1969*, 1970*, 1973*, 1974*, 1978*, 1987, 1999 1958*, 1959*, 1966*, 1967*, 1968*, 1969*, 1970*, 1973*, 1974*, 1978*, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1999at Division II level 1952, 1953 Mid-Continent Conference Missouri Valley Conference Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Mid-Continent Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri State Bears basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri . The Bears compete in the Missouri Valley Conference . They are currently coached by Cuonzo Martin . Missouri State plays its home games at the 11,000-seat Great Southern Bank Arena .
The Bears have been a Division I school since the 1982–83 season. Prior to 2005, the school was known as Southwest Missouri State. Missouri State has appeared six times in the NCAA tournament , most recently in 1999. The Bears most notable NCAA tournament run came in 1999 when they advanced to the Sweet 16, defeating #5 seed Wisconsin and #4 seed Tennessee.
Prior to joining Division I, they were members of the NAIA , winning national championships in 1952 and 1953, and NCAA Division II , where they were the national runner-up four times (1959, 1967, 1969, 1974). They were also champions of the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament .
Head coaches
Postseason
NCAA Division I Tournament results
The Bears have appeared in six NCAA Division I Tournaments , all as Southwest Missouri State. Their combined record is 3–6.
Year
Seed
Round
Opponent
Result
1987 No. 13
Round of 64
No. 4 Clemson
W 65–60
1988 No. 13
Round of 64
No. 4 UNLV
L 50–54
1989 No. 14
Round of 64
No. 3 Seton Hall
L 51–60
1990 No. 9
Round of 64
No. 8 North Carolina
L 70–83
1992 No. 12
Round of 64
No. 5 Michigan State
L 54–61
1999 No. 12
Round of 64
No. 5 Wisconsin
W 43–32W 81–51
NCAA Division II Tournament results
The Bears appeared in ten NCAA Division II Tournaments . Their combined record is 23–10.
Year
Round
Opponent
Result
1958 Regional Quarterfinals
Centenary
W 74–69W 73–65
1959 Regional Quarterfinals
Abilene Christian
W 87–67W 65–62W 76–74W 72–59
1966 Regional Semi-finals
Arkansas State
W 72–71
1967 Regional Quarterfinals
Arkansas AM&N W 83–80W 87–77W 86–72W 93–76
1968 Regional Semi-finals
Colorado State-Pueblo
W 69–68
1969 Regional Quarterfinals
Saint Olaf
W 75–47W 87–74W 92–76W 58–48
1970 Regional Semi-finals
South Dakota State
L 71–82W 76–65
1973 Regional Semi-finals
South Dakota State
L 74–85W 76–62
1974 Regional Quarterfinals
North Dakota
W 71–63W 89–86W 80–78W 68–63
1978 Regional Semi-finals
Columbus State
W 69–67
NAIA Tournament results
The Bears appeared in six NAIA Tournaments . Their combined record is 15–4 and are two time NAIA national champions (1952, 1953).
Year
Round
Opponent
Result
1939 First round
East Texas State
L 45–68
1943 First round
Murray State
L 44–72
1949 First round
Portland
W 59–56
1952 First round
Chadron State
W 87–66W 82–64W 87–74W 70–67W 73–64
1953 First round
Gonzaga
W 95–74W 98–71W 78–74W 84–78W 79–71
1954 First round
East Tennessee State
W 77–72W 66–57W 65–59 OTW 75–61
NIT results
The Bears have appeared in 10 National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 10–10.[ 2]
Year
Round
Opponent
Result
1986 First round
Pittsburgh
W 59–52W 83–69
1991 First round
Coppin State
W 57–47
1993 First round
St. Joseph's
W 56–34W 70–52
1997 First round
North Carolina State
L 66–77
2000 First round
SMU
W 77–64
2005 First round
Rice
W 105–82
2006 First round
Stanford
W 76–67W 60–59
2007 First round
San Diego State
L 70–74
2011 First round
Murray State
W 89–76
2022 First round
Oklahoma
L 72–89
CIT results
The Bears have appeared in two CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments (CIT). Their combined record is 4–1 and were the 2010 Champions.
Year
Round
Opponent
Result
2010 First round
Middle Tennessee State
W 87–79W 69–40W 67–61W 78–65
2014 First round
Murray State
L 63–66
Retired numbers
Missouri State Bears retired numbers
No.
Player
Tenure
No. ret.
Ref.
22 Winston Garland 1985–1987
[ 3]
32
Danny Moore
1996-1999
2023
32 Daryel Garrison [ n 1]
1971–1975
2008
[ 3]
43 Jerry Anderson
1951–1955
[ 3]
54 Curtis Perry
1966–1970
[ 3]
Notes
^ Bears all-time leading scorer with 1,975 points.
Bears in NBA
Draft
The following former Missouri State players were drafted into the NBA:
References
External links
Venues People Seasons NAIA national championships in bold
Teams Tournament & awards Seasons
