Brandon Besong on the Bears' visit to Rountree Elementary School
• MSU Athletics Director's Honor Roll - Fall 2012, Spring 2012, Fall 2011
2012: Played in all 17 matches of the Bears' matches...Started in three of the Bears' four matches against ranked opponents: No. 26 UC Irvine, No. 19 SMU and No. 21 Creighton...Was also in the starting lineup against Oral Roberts (Sept. 1)...Played a season-high 110 minutes in the 1-1 double overtime draw with 19th-ranked SMU...Registered eight shots on the season.
2011: Earned his first letter at Missouri State after playing in 17 of the Bears' 19 matches...Was one of five freshmen to earn a start during the 2011 season...Both of his starts were at Plaster Field when the team squared off against Tulsa (Sept. 1) and UMKC (Oct. 18)...Logged a season-high 39 minutes in the Bears' 5-1 routing of UMKC...Recorded two shots on the season.
Background: Was a four-year standout on the pitch for head coach J.P. Graham at George Washington (Iowa) High...Helped compile an overall record of 60-20 in four years with the Warriors' soccer program...His team qualified for the Iowa state soccer tournament in 2008, 2010 and 2011...As a senior, he broke the team record for assists in a single season (15) and led the team for the second straight year in points...Also earned all-state first team, all-conference and all-metro honors for the second season in-a-row...Was a senior captain...Recipient of the Adam Gorman Award as a senior...Led the Warriors in goals scored (15) and assists (13) during his junior campaign...Earned all-conference and all-metro second team accolades his sophomore year...Helped lead GWHS to a fourth-place finish at state his freshman season...Finished his career as the school's all-time leader in assists (37) and tied for third in total points (77)...His club team won the State Cup in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010...Also played football two seasons at GWHS.
Personal: Besong is the son of John-Paul and Phyllis Cooper-Besong...Born February 23, 1993 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa...Majoring in entertainment management.
