SPRINGFIELD, MO. — The Missouri State Bears scored a 62-55 victory over the University of Northern Iowa Panther men's basketball team on Thursday at JQH Arena.

The Bears (13-3 overall, 3-0 MVC) tallied a 51-26 rebounding edge against the Panthers. MSU's Alize Johnson tallied 24 points and 20 rebounds in the contest. Johnson posted six of MSU's 17 offensive rebounds.

UNI (8-7 overall, 0-3 MVC) trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half, but rallied to cut the lead to four with 27.3 seconds left. Missouri State led 55-36 with 6:11 before UNI used a 17-2 run to make it close late in the contest.

UNI was led by freshman Tywhon Pickford's double-double. Pickford recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Bears. Klint Carlson added 16 points and nine rebounds, while Bennett Koch was credited with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor.

The Panthers will be back in action Sunday at home against the Loyola Ramblers. Tip is set for 3 p.m. in the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls.

Missouri State 62, Northern Iowa 55

N. IOWA (8-7)

Koch 5-7 4-5 14, Carlson 6-15 2-3 16, McCloud 1-5 0-0 2, Brown 0-1 1-2 1, Pickford 7-13 2-3 18, Phyfe 0-1 0-2 0, McDonnell 0-1 0-0 0, Friedman 0-0 0-0 0, W.Lohaus 1-5 1-2 3, H.Rhodes 0-1 0-0 0, McDermott 0-1 0-0 0, Haldeman 0-3 1-2 1. Totals 20-53 11-19 55.

MISSOURI ST. (13-3)

Johnson 8-19 8-10 24, J.Rhodes 3-7 0-0 9, Church 1-3 0-1 2, Dixon 0-2 2-2 2, Kreklow 1-8 2-2 4, Scurry 1-6 2-4 4, Fofana 0-0 1-2 1, Miller 5-7 3-4 13, Rousseau 1-2 0-2 3. Totals 20-54 18-27 62.

Halftime—Missouri St. 31-22. 3-Point Goals—N. Iowa 4-18 (Carlson 2-5, Pickford 2-7, W.Lohaus 0-1, McDonnell 0-1, McCloud 0-2, Haldeman 0-2), Missouri St. 4-16 (J.Rhodes 3-6, Rousseau 1-1, Johnson 0-3, Kreklow 0-6). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—N. Iowa 24 (Pickford 10), Missouri St. 49 (Johnson 20). Assists—N. Iowa 9 (Pickford 4), Missouri St. 6 (Rousseau 2). Total Fouls—N. Iowa 25, Missouri St. 17. A—4,934 (11,000).