Box Score HAYS, Kan. - Northwest Missouri State senior DeShaun Cooper scored 26 points to lead the Bearcats to an 88-74 victory over Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon in MIAA action at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The win moves Northwest to 8-4 overall and a perfect 3-0 in league play. Fort Hays drops to 8-3 and is now 0-3 in MIAA action.

Joining Cooper in double digits was Grant Cozad with 14, Bryston Williams with 13 and Dillon Starzl with 11. Cozad and Starzl each had seven rebounds to lead the team. Conner Crooker and Zach Schneider each had two steals.

Northwest hit 13 three pointers, shooting 65 percent from beyond the arc (13-for-20). Northwest also hit 21 of its 24 free throw attempts and the Bearcat bench outscored FHSU 32-9. Northwest''s biggest lead of 17 came at the end of the first half with the Bearcats leading, 48-31.

The Bearcats return to action on Saturday, Jan. 4, when Northwest hosts Central Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. in Maryville, Mo.