The Missouri State Ice Bears, who sit at No. 18 in the latest American Collegiate Hockey League rankings, are coming off a weekend sweep over the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. The Bears are a very hungry team looking for another successful weekend against the Cyclones who were on the opposite side of the spectrum last weekend after getting swept for the second consecutive weekend against Lindenwood.

As the team heads into the final few games before the playoffs, every point matters and the head coach and general manager Jason Fairman knows that all too well.

“Every game counts. We cannot have any missteps this late in the season,” Fairman said. “[The players] know that and it has been the message the whole time, it is going to be the same case tomorrow.”

The Cyclones came out ready to play, taking advantage of that momentum over the Bears and it paid off when junior forward Tony Uglem got the puck behind the Missouri State goaltender who did not get his pads closed in time, allowing the puck to trickle into the back of the net to make the score 1-0.

A little later, the Cyclones were able to add another point to the scoreboard when sophomore forward Tommy Hanson got his third goal of the season, putting it over the left shoulder of the goaltender to make it 2-0.

“For the most part, I thought we were pretty good and that might have contributed to their [Missouri State’s] bus legs.” said goaltender Derek Moser who stopped all six Bears’ shots heading into the first intermission.

Like the Cyclones, the Bears were able to get one on the board early in the second period with a top-shelf goal just a handful of seconds after their power play expired, from junior forward Travis Barrett, a product of the St. Louis Selects.

There was a difference in speed for the Bears in the second and it was a noticeable one as they were able to catch the Cyclones in their own zone, tying up the game 2-2 with a goal at 7:59 from Shane Thornton. Thornton rang one just under the crossbar top shelf on Moser.

It was not until about midway through the third period when the Cyclones were able to recapture the lead with a nice play when Adam Alcott was able to make a cross ice pass to Aaron Azevedo in front of the net, putting it behind the Bears goalie to make it 3-2.

Uglem was able to add one more goal for the Cyclones, his second of the game to put the Cyclones up two on the Bears and make the final score 4-2, breaking their four-game losing streak.

The Cyclones return tomorrow night for the second half of the series, looking to keep the wins rolling as the road to the playoffs stretch continues.