OPINION|
Senior Day for Michael Osei-Bonsu was a spot-on depiction of his two seasons at Missouri State. Throughout the 75-63 loss to Middle Tennessee State on Saturday at Great Southern Bank Arena, no one exhausted every ounce of effort and desire more than “Big Mike.”
But after getting 20 points and 11 rebounds — the 11th double-double of his career — it wasn’t enough as an opponent that simply had more overall depth beat the Bears and sent them to a final record of 14-17 overall and 8-12 in their first Conference USA season.
Missouri State will go into this week’s C-USA Tournament as the No. 9 seed and face Florida International at 5:30 p.m. March 10 in Huntsville, Alabama. The teams split their two meetings this season, both winning at home.
Osei-Bonsu will be ready. As always.
Due to the team’s losing records in his two seasons, Osei-Bonsu will be overlooked among really good and popular players in program history. At 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, he was one of the shortest post players in Division I, after two seasons at Vincennes Junior College. And he was far from perfect, with some ill-timed turnovers and missed free throws that stood out in several close losses.
But if Missouri State had a dozen players with the motor of Osei-Bonsu, the won-loss record would have been flipped on its head this season. On and off the court, this is a guy loved by his teammates and coaches.
“Just a super unselfish guy,” teammate Keith Palek III said of Osei-Bonsu. “He never is looking for something for himself. He’s always looking out for others. A great leader. You couldn’t ask for a better leader for this team. He shows up every day and puts the work in. He’s fought through injuries all year, but battles hard.
“He’s obviously a big guy, he has a big heart, too. You can always talk to him about whatever you need. He’s a great locker room guy and has kept the team together through ups and downs this year.”
Missouri State’s Michael Osei-Bonsu looks to score against Florida International at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield on January 10, 2026. (Photo by Bruce Stidham)
Many observers doubted coach Cuonzo Martin’s faith in a 6-4 center when he made Osei-Bonus one of his first recruits upon returning to Missouri State in the spring of 2024.
“He’s special,” Martin said. “I would say, he’s a son to me now.”
Martin said that trust is why Osei-Bonsu stayed at Missouri State after last season’s 9-23 record when other schools — who saw how effective Osei-Bonsu could be — courted him.
“Once he trusts you, he trusts you. Mike had an opportunity to do a lot of other things last year with money and resources from other programs, but it wasn’t his desire,” Martin added. “He wanted to be here because he trusts us as a staff. He appreciates being here and the people and the community. The level of comfort.”
Martin said an example of that trust is Osei-Bonsu’s recent search for an affordable vehicle. He came to the coach asking for advice about what cars that fit his budget and how to go about making the right decision.
“That’s the life stuff you don’t see,” Martin said.
On the court, Osei-Bonsu saved one of his best individual games for the last one at home. He took no pleasure in it being a defeat, but said he took joy in getting to share Senior Day emotions with his teammates and family members who were on hand.
“Emotionally it felt normal,” he said of pre-game ceremonies. “But emotions were also a great feeling. I got to play with my teammates once again. They’re my brothers, so those emotions were good.
“I’ve gotten better as a player by my teammates pushing me every day, especially Keith. My teammates, my coaches, all of them have pushed me.”
As for his two years in Springfield, Osei-Bonus said “it’s been great. I’ve learned a lot of lessons. I made some relationships with a lot of people — coaches, teammates — and just had a great ride.”
Palek, the Bears’ leading scorer in his lone season as a Division II transfer, did achieve a notable milestone with the fifth of his six rebounds. With 543 points, 201 rebounds and 108 assists, he became the first player in the 500-200-100 club in program history.
Now those two — along with seniors Antwan Burnett and Logan Epes — will set their sights on at least one more game in a Bears’ uniform. Martin said he believes Missouri State has the best inside-outside combo of all C-USA teams. How that plays out in a tournament setting — for a team that lost eight league games by a total of 30 points — remains to be seen.
“We’re definitely well aware that you only get one chance, so if you don’t show up one night, the season’s over,” Palek said. “We’re gonna show up, and I know I’m gonna give it my all, and I know this guy (Osei-Bonsu) is gonna give his all. I think the rest of the guys in that locker room will be ready to fight once we get there.”
Lyndal Scranton is a Springfield native who has covered sports in the Ozarks for more than 35 years, witnessing nearly every big sports moment in the region during the last 50 years. The Missouri Sports Hall of Famer, Springfield Area Sports Hall of Famer and live-fire cooking enthusiast also serves as PR Director for Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri and is co-host of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Contact him at Lscranton755@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @LyndalScranton. More by Lyndal Scranton