Box Score MANKATO, Minn. - The Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team jumped out to an early first half and never trailed as the Bearcats defeated Winona State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, 98-77, on Saturday evening at the Taylor Center on the campus of Minnesota State. Northwest moves to 23-8 on the season while Winona State ends the season at 26-8.

Senior DeShaun Cooper lead all scorers with 29, going 9-for-13 from the field. He also had a game-high six assists. Dillon Starzl had 20 points and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the line. Conner Crooker hit three from beyond the arc and was 6-of-7 from the charity stripe to finish with 19 points. Freshman Zach Schneider had 12 points, all on three pointers.

The lead was built early on the long range ball as Northwest hit nine first-half three pointers. For the game, Northwest shot a blistering 61.5 percent (32-for-52) from the field and hit 11-of-20 three point attempts (55.0 percent). At the free throw line, the team went 23-for-28 (82.1 percent). Northwest's defense was also solid, holding Winona State to just 39.3 percent from the field (24-for-61). The Bearcats outrebounded the Warriors, 35-29.

The Bearcats, who led by as many as 20 in the first half, shot 57.7 percent (15-for-26) and connected on nine of their first 14 three pointers (64.3 percent). Cooper scored 15 points in the first half and Schneder hit 3-of-5 from long range. In the second half, Northwest shot the ball even better, connecting on 65.4 percent of its shots (17-for-26).

Northwest advances to the second round and will play regional host Minnesota State on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.