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By David Boyce  |  Northwest vs. Nebraska-Kearney  |  Bearcat Arena  |  Maryville, Mo.  |  Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015
Women at 5:30 p.m.  |  Men at 7:30 p.m.  |  Live Audio  |  Live Video  |  Women's Live Stats  |  Men's Live Stats
 
MARYVILLE, Mo. - After a four-day, three-night stay in Oklahoma, the Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team returns home as one of the hottest teams in the MIAA.
 
The Bearcats knocked off first place Central Oklahoma by 21 points and followed it with an equally impressive 24-point victory over Northeastern State.
 
Although Northeastern sits next to last in the MIAA, the manner in which the Bearcats went about business Monday night was significant. It showed that they treated the RiverHawks the same as Central Oklahoma.
 
"We can't get comfortable with the leads we have had," Northwest senior Grant Cozad said. "We have to keep the consistency. Everybody is playing great. Everybody is playing with energy and effort.
 
"We are starting games off really well. The first five minutes is big because that is when we can build up that momentum and carry it through the game."
 
Northwest will need to bring that same attitude 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening when the Bearcats take on Nebraska-Kearney at Bearcat Arena.
 
"It is going to be awesome," Cozad said. "Hopefully, we will have some students back for Saturday against Washburn and support us and keep that energy rocking in Bearcat Arena. That is what we need and haven't had on the road. That is what we look forward to."
 
Just because Northwest will be playing on its home floor in front of a supportive and friendly crowd, the Bearcats, 11-2 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA, can't take it easy. Nebraska-Kearney is also starting the season strong. The Lopers are 8-4 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA, just a half game behind Northwest. If they win, the Lopers move in front of Northwest in the standing.
 
Immediately following the Nebraska-Kearney game, Northwest will face Washburn on Saturday at Bearcat Arena.
 
"We need to work on defensive rebounding," Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. "Going into Nebraska-Kearney and Washburn games, both of them are excellent rebounding teams. Both of them pound it inside. We will have to be ready to defend the post.
 
"We will have to go against multiple defenses. Both of them play some zone and play some man. We will have to react to that."
 
Obviously, Northwest wants to keep up its hot shooting from the outside. In the last two games, the Bearcats are 29 for 47 from behind the arc for an incredible 62 percent.
 
McCollum and the players know there are going to be games when the three-pointer is not falling. That means they have to find other ways to win.
 
In a sense, the second half against Central Oklahoma was good for the Bearcats. After going 10 for 14 on three-pointers in the second half, Northwest was just two for nine in the second half. The Bearcats, though, still were able to build and maintain a 30-point lead through much of the second half.
 
"Towards the end of the game, we got a little lackadaisical on defense," Cozad said. "We have to remind ourselves we got to sprint back. Teams are not going to ease up on us.
 
"We are going to have a lot closer games. We have to have a relentless effort from everybody. Transition defense will be a key. Northeastern really ran on us."