Box Score By David Boyce

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - In the previous two games, Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team lamented its slow start. A game against neighboring rival Missouri Western was the perfect tonic to ignite the Bearcat engine.

Northwest quickly jumped to a 10-point advantage and then used the rest of the game as a clinic on team basketball.

The Bearcats went inside, made outside shots, passed the ball crisply to open teammates and played solid defense. It all added up to an impressive 92-60 victory over Western Saturday evening at MWSU Fieldhouse.

"It was very important to come out strong because that is what we worked on," said Northwest senior point guard DeShaun Cooper, who finished with a game-high 22 points. "That is one of our strengths to come out and go at their throats. To see it today was great.

"And when you are playing in an atmosphere like that, you have no choice but to be ready. It was a nice environment."

Northwest moved just a step closer to a MIAA regular-season title. The Bearcats improved to 20-6 overall and 15-2 in the MIAA.

Cooper had the most impressive offensive night. Cooper had some nice drives, made a couple of slick passes for assists and knocked down jumpers all over the court.

But it would do a disservice to the rest of the Bearcats to single out Cooper. Dillon Starzl and Grant Cozad played strong in the paint. Connor Crooker, Bryston Williams and Zach Schneider made open three-pointers.

Every Bearcat who stepped on the court looked for an open teammate for an easier shot before taking one.

Northwest continued this style at the start of the second half despite holding a commanding 47-33 halftime lead.

The Bearcats scored the first four points in the second half for a 51-35 lead.

"We know after a half like that, Missouri Western was going to come out strong," Williams said. "We had to play well the first five minutes, starting off like we did at the beginning of the game."

Western made one push in the second half when it closed to 55-44. Northwest responded with a three-pointer by Williams, making it 58-44. Crooker followed with a trey, increasing the lead to 61-44. Two free throws by Starzl made it 63-44. The game was over even though more than 10 minutes remained.

"We have a lot of weapons and when you have weapons like that and clicking, you have no choice but to share it," Cooper said. "We all love playing the game of basketball so we share the basketball."

Actually, Northwest won this game in the first half.

Near the end of the first half, Cooper was so hot that he had to take a heat check shot.

For those not familiar with the heat-check terminology, it is when a player is so hot that he or she takes a 35-foot jumper to prove it.

Well, on this occasion, Cooper shot an air ball and then flashed a huge grin. He earned that right.

"Yes, that was a heat check," Cooper said. "Actually, the ball slipped out of my hand. I wouldn't air ball like that."

Just before his offensive spurt, Cooper made a nice drive into the paint and handed off a pass to Starzl that resulted in a dunk and gave Northwest a 33-23 lead.

Ever since the Bearcats bolted to a 14-4 lead, they maintained between a six and 10-point lead.

"It was one of our focuses," Williams said. "We wanted to come out with great energy from the whole team, not just the starting five. We showed that today.

"When we play with that type of energy, this is the game we play."

With 4 minutes remaining in the first half, Cooper got hot. His first basket gave the Bearcats a 35-25 lead. After Western scored, Cooper knocked down two free throws. He followed that with a 2-point field goal and then added a three-pointer, giving Northwest a 42-27 lead.

Western made two free throws and then Cooper hit a three-pointer off the dribble, making it 45-29. Cooper was on fire until he cooled himself off with his heat-check moment.

The only time Cooper wasn't focused was after the game when he was answering a few questions. He apologized for not hearing one question because he was looking at a few female college students walking by.

"Could you repeat the question," Cooper said with a laugh.

When you beat your rival by 32 points on their floor, you can wear a big smile like Cooper did after the game.