Box Score

MARYVILLE, Mo.-Northwest Missouri State''s hopes of making the MIAA tournament have been dashed for the second straight year at the hands of Missouri Southern. The Bearcats fell on Saturday afternoon to the Lions 89-81 in overtime in Bearcat Arena.

Northwest led by as many as 11 at one point in the second half and were up by nine points with 2:01 remaining in the game. Northwest would turn the ball over four times in the 1:51 to allow Missouri Southern to sneak back in and tie the game at 75 with 15 seconds left in the game. DeShaun Cooper''s last second field goal attempt was no good and the game headed into overtime. Missouri Southern hit 4-of-5 from the floor in the extra frame and had four free-throws. Northwest shot 2-of-6 in overtime.

Cooper led the Bearcats with 21 points and also dished out a game-high seven assists. Elijah Allen had a double-double, recording 18 points and 11 rebounds. Allen also had two steals in the loss. Girod Adams in his final game as a Bearcat had 15 points and two assists.

Skyler Bowlin led the Lions with 21 points, four assists and three steals in the game. Northwest turned the ball over 19 times in the game and Missouri Southern capitalized with 23 points off of Northwest miscues. The Bearcats shot nearly 53 percent from beyond the arch and hit 17-of20 free-throws. Missouri Southern hit 7-of-12 from three-point land and also went to the foul line 32 times.

Northwest closes its season at 12-15 overall and 7-13 in the MIAA. The Bearcats lose two seniors off of this year''s squad in Adams and Edriss Floyd. Floyd did not play in Saturday''s game due to the flu.