<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000931145
<NAME> THE BEAR STEARNS FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 113
<NAME> EMERGING MARKETS DEBT PORTFOLIO - CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2001
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 27910549
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 28467794
<RECEIVABLES> 1072295
<ASSETS-OTHER> 20958
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 29561047
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 14427
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 230422
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 244849
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 31755481
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 283963
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 261782
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 7196
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (3007376)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 560897
<NET-ASSETS> 29316198
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1500616
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (293099)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1207517
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 902336
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1268940)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 840913
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (107133)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 81519
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (67036)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 7698
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (3759259)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 12870
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (3909712)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 154426
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10328
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 458869
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2888844
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.51
<PER-SHARE-NII> .38
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.09)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.38)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.42
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.40
</TABLE>