Church & Missouri State Part Ways

Editor: The following is part of a press release from the Missouri State athletics department.

(Springfield, MO)  – Missouri State men’s basketball coach Dana Ford announced Monday that senior forward Obediah Church, who has been away from the team since late December, will not be returning.

Ford said he wishes Church the best in his future endeavors and appreciates his contributions to the program.

“After several attempts to meet and talk, we still have some differences of opinion,” Ford said. ”We’re at the point where we need to move forward, and we certainly wish him the best.”

Church will remain on scholarship for the spring semester and is on track to complete his degree and graduate in May. He played in 106 games in his career with 692 points, 607 rebounds and a school-record 201 blocked shots.

The Bears begin a two-game Missouri Valley Conference road swing Tuesday at Valparaiso, having won four of their last six conference games.

Editor: Church was a two-time, MVC All-Defensive Team member and was a part of the MVC All-Freshman team. During the 2015-16 season, he led all Valley freshmen in rebounding and blocked shots. The Springfield, Illinois native was an MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll member.