Box Score

WARRENSBURG, Mo.-Northwest Missouri State point guard DeShaun Cooper scored 31 points for the second time in three games, but got little help offensively from his teammates in a 66-56 loss to Central Missouri Saturday at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The loss ends the Bearcats'' season-long, four-game win streak.

Cooper made 10-of-16 field goals including all five he took from 3-point range. The rest of the squad combined for 25 points on 9-of-32 shooting including a 1-of-10 effort from behind the arc. Cooper was the lone Bearcat to score in double figures.

Central Missouri (17-9, 12-8 MIAA) got 16 points from Bryce Brunz and 15 each from Tyler Oakley and Tyrone Young to clinch a spot in the MIAA tournament. The Mules have won five of their last six.

Young hit back-to-back 3-pointers down the stretch that helped the Mules turn a three-point lead into a 60-50 advantage with 2:16 remaining. Young and Brunz hit three 3-pointers each and the Mules were 6-of-10 from long distance.

Cooper (21) and Dillon Starzl (9) combined to score all but three of Northwest''s second-half points. The Bearcats lost the rebound battle for just the second time in the last 14 games and shot lower than 40 percent for the first time in 11 games.

Despite the loss, Northwest (9-15, 7-13) will not be eliminated from postseason contention Saturday. The Bearcats must win their final two games starting with Southwest Baptist Wednesday in Maryville to have a chance to reach Kansas City.