DALLAS – For the third consecutive year and the second straight time in the Lone Star Alliance, Missouri State finishes the season as the conference champions. The Bears defeated Rice, 11-7, on Sunday afternoon on the campus of Southern Methodist University.

With the win, Missouri State (6-7) automatically qualifies for the 2019 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour, which will take place in Salt Lake City from May 6-11.

The two teams looked evening matched in the first half. Rice (7-2) took a narrow 2-1 lead after the first quarter, but the Bears tied it up at fives heading in the second half.

Despite the outstanding play from Owls Davis Nelson, Rice ran out of gas over the course of the second half after being pressured by the likes of Justice Greenberger and Colton Daniel.

MoState led 9-6 after three quarters and cruised home for the four-goal win.

The Bears will find out their seed tonight after the selection committee releases the field for nationals this evening. The information will be on MCLA.us when it becomes available.

2019 Lone Star Alliance Division II Tournament
(Dallas, Texas – Southern Methodist University)

Quarterfinals – April 12-14 (Home sites)
#1C Oklahoma State d. #2C Dallas Baptist, 16-12
#1N Missouri State d. #2N Creighton, 19-6
#2S UT San Antonio d. #1S Baylor, 15-14

Semifinals – April 27 (at Southern Methodist)
#1E Rice d. #1C Oklahoma State, 16-8
#1N Missouri State d. #2S UT-San Antonio, 14-7

Finals – April 28 (at Southern Methodist)
#1N Missouri State d. #1E Rice, 11-7