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By David Boyce  |  Northwest vs. Missouri Western  |  Saturday, Feb. 21  |  Bearcat Arena  |  Maryville, Mo.  |  Women at 1:30/Men at 3:30 p.m.
Live Video  |  Live Audio  |  Women's Live Statistics  |  Men's Live Statistics

Commentary
 
MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team exerted maximum effort physically and mentally Wednesday evening in its thrilling victory at Lindenwood.
 
It was the type of win to savor for four or five days before returning to action. But it doesn't usually work that way in the rugged MIAA.
 
When the Bearcats left Hyland Arena Wednesday night for a five hour drive back to Maryville, they knew they only had a couple of days of preparation before facing rival Missouri Western.
 
"We just have to focus every practice," senior Matt Wallace said. "We may be tired and banged up, but this late in the season, a lot of it is mental. You have to do the little drills and do them right.
 
"Saturday is not going to be very hard to get excited for that game. That is such a big game. Hopefully, we will have a big crowd."
 
Bearcat Arena should be rocking 3:30 p.m. Saturday when Northwest, the hottest team in the MIAA, takes on the Griffons, who will come in looking to play the spoiler role.
 
The current six-game winning streak has pushed Northwest, 19-5 overall and 12-4 in conference, into a three-way tie for first with Central Missouri and Pittsburg State.
 
Western, at 11-12 and 7-9, has secured a spot in the conference tournament and proven it has the talent to push the top teams.
 
The Bearcats know this well. They escaped with a 59-58 victory at Western on Feb. 4.
 
"They should have beaten us the last time we played them," junior Conner Crooker said. "We know it is going to be a tough battle at home. We will be ready."
 
Northwest has played in front of an energetic crowd throughout the season. For the final two home games, the 2014-15 Bearcats deserve a packed house. They are playing unselfish, team basketball that is simply fun to watch. They don't care who scores.
 
What we are seeing is a group of players who are truly playing for the name on the front of their jersey. They are representing Northwest the right way and it is noticed by opposing teams.
 
When Crooker was doing an interview after the win at Lindenwood, a Lindenwood teacher stopped by and congratulated Crooker and Northwest for a well-played game.
 
That only happens when you play and conduct yourself the right way.
 
The energy will be high for the Western game. It is a fun rivalry. The one guarantee is the Bearcats will focus on what is important and that is simply to get a win and draw a step closer to a regular season title.
 
After the thrilling win at Lindenwood, sophomore Zach Schneider already knew what the Bearcats needed to do against Western.
 
"We can't look past them," he said. "We have to get back in transition. We got killed in transition and physically out toughed the last time we played them. We have to work on that the next two days, but I think we will be ready for them."
 
Those were essentially the same words as Northwest coach Ben McCollum uttered.
 
"It is a big rivalry game," McCollum said. "It is an emotional game. This one was, too. You have to get your emotions in check and regroup and play at that high level again to beat Mo Western."