WESTCHESTER, Fla. (Interstat) — Florida International held off Missouri State 70-67 in a Conference USA men’s basketball game Saturday at Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The Golden Panthers avenged a January loss to the Bears. Kobi Williams led all scorers with 25 points for Missouri State. Florida International countered with balanced scoring as Julian Mackey scored 22 points and Corey Stephenson added 17. Hamed Olayinka anchored the interior for the Golden Panthers with 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. The victory moved both teams to an identical 13-14 overall season record. The contest fell well below the projected total points line of 154.

WESTCHESTER, Fla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and missed opportunities, Julian Mackey’s late-game heroics and a critical final defensive stand lifted Florida International to a 70-67 victory over Missouri State in a Conference USA men’s basketball matchup on Saturday afternoon at Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The contest, a rematch of a Jan. 10 game won by Missouri State, saw neither team lead by more than eight points and featured 14 ties and 16 lead changes. It culminated in a frantic final minute where the Golden Panthers made the necessary plays to even both teams’ season records at 13-14. The most pivotal sequence began with the score tied at 67 and 22 seconds remaining. After a missed 3-pointer by Florida International’s Julian Mackey, Missouri State’s Keith Palek was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to give the Bears a 69-67 lead with 17 seconds left. Florida International called timeout to advance the ball. Out of the stoppage, guard Zawdie Jackson drove and kicked to a curling Corey Stephenson on the left wing. Stephenson, who had been held in check for much of the second half, drained a contested 3-pointer with just two seconds on the clock, silencing the visiting contingent and putting the Golden Panthers ahead 70-69. Missouri State, out of timeouts, could only manage a desperation heave from well beyond half-court by Kobi Williams as time expired, sealing the dramatic home victory. The game’s climax was a fitting end to a battle defined by efficiency, or lack thereof. Florida International won despite shooting only 4 of 15 from 3-point range and 16 of 24 from the free-throw line. Their victory was rooted in a more effective offensive operation, scoring 70 points on just 67 possessions for an offensive rating of 103.9. Missouri State, by contrast, managed only 67 points on 73 trips, an offensive rating of 91.8, hampered by 14 turnovers. Missouri State’s Kobi Williams was the standout individual performer, pouring in a game-high 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting, including four 3-pointers. His back-to-back 3-pointers late in the second half had briefly given the Bears momentum and a narrow lead. Michael Osei-Bonsu provided a massive interior presence for the Bears with 12 rebounds, though he was limited to six points. For Florida International, the scoring load was shared. Julian Mackey led the way with 22 points, showcasing a clutch ability to score at the rim in traffic. Corey Stephenson finished with 17 points and six rebounds, his final shot erasing an otherwise quiet second half. Hamed Olayinka was a force defensively and on the glass, contributing 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. The first half set the tone for the defensive struggle, with Florida International taking a slim 31-29 lead into the break. Both teams shot under 40% from the field in the opening period, and the Golden Panthers’ ability to generate second-chance points, despite only six offensive rebounds, kept them afloat. Missouri State’s recent woes continued, as they dropped their fourth consecutive game, each by six points or fewer. Florida International, meanwhile, snapped a two-game skid and gained a measure of revenge for their earlier loss to the Bears. The game failed to reach the projected over/under of 154 points, finishing at 137, a testament to the physical, half-court nature of the contest. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Florida International entered as a 60.8% favorite. Both teams continue Conference USA play on Thursday. Missouri State travels to face Louisiana Tech, while Florida International heads to Sam Houston.

Preview: Missouri State Bears at Florida International Golden Panthers WESTCHESTER, Fla. (Interstat) — Two teams hovering near .500 will meet Saturday when the Missouri State Bears visit the Florida International Golden Panthers in a Conference USA men’s basketball matchup. The game, scheduled for Feb. 21, 2026, at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, features teams with nearly identical records. Missouri State (13-13 overall) holds a slight edge over Florida International (12-13). The Bears will look to snap a four-game skid, most recently a 91-87 home loss to Kennesaw State on Wednesday. Guard Keith Palek has been a consistent bright spot during the slide, averaging 18.6 points over his last seven games. He scored 20 points with seven assists in the loss to Kennesaw State. Florida International enters with momentum from a 77-64 home victory over Louisiana Tech on Feb. 14. The Golden Panthers were anchored in that win by forward Hamed Olayinka, who delivered a dominant defensive performance with 17 rebounds and five blocks to go with 11 points. The season’s first meeting resulted in a 79-71 victory for Missouri State at home on Jan. 10. Both teams are jockeying for position in the Conference USA standings with the regular season winding down. The outcome could provide a critical boost for either squad’s seeding ahead of the conference tournament. After this contest, Missouri State travels to face Louisiana Tech on Feb. 26. Florida International will hit the road for a game at Sam Houston on the same date.