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By David Boyce  |  Northwest vs. Minnesota State Moorhead  |  Tuesday, March 17  |  Sioux Falls, S.D.  |  7 p.m.  |  Sanford Pentagon
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - In Northwest Missouri State's gutsy 66-65 victory in the Central Regional semifinal over No. 1 seed Augustana, junior guard Lyle Harris played 2 minutes. Harris didn't attempt a shot, didn't grab a rebound or have an assist.
 
And yet, Harris is one reason why the Bearcats, 25-6, will be playing Minnesota State University Moorhead, 34-3, 7 p.m. Tuesday in Sioux Falls, S.D. for a spot in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Evansville, Ind.
 
Loyal followers of the 2014-15 Bearcats know the beauty of this year's team is on any given night, somebody different will step up and play a key role.
 
For Harris, his moment came in the regional quarterfinal game. In the first half, Minnesota State University-Mankato was determined to take away Northwest's outside shooters and it worked.
 
Minnesota-Mankato built a 14-point lead and limited Northwest three-point specialist Zach Schneider to two shot attempts the entire game.  
 
The Bearcats changed strategy in the second half. They started driving for layups. Harris was instrumental in the comeback. He played 16 minutes and scored 12 points in Northwest's 59-56 win.
 
"He was huge in the first game," Northwest coach Ben McCollum said.
 
Against Augustana, the Bearcats trailed by 10 in the first half. The game flow allowed Schneider to get open looks. Schneider played all 40 minutes and knocked down five three-pointers, a few coming early in the second half.
 
"Zach was big for us, hitting those three," junior Conner Crooker said. "It really got us rolling."
 
Sure, Northwest has talented scorers and is athletic enough to play gritty defense against some of the best offensive teams in Division II. But the Bearcats true strength is their team unity.
 
"We have different guys play the X factor and that is big for us," Harris said. "It just shows how good we are as a team. It shows our depth. We are a true team. There is no better feeling. Everybody has bought into the program. This is how it feels to be part of a real team. It is fun for everybody."
 
The unselfish mentality of each member on the team allows McCollum to play a reserve 10 to 15 minutes one game and hardly at all the next and not have to worry about pouting.
 
One night the game plan might dictate getting the ball inside and abandon the outside shot. Another game it could be a complete opposite. Northwest has won both ways this season.
 
"It makes it fun," McCollum said. "It makes it a lot easier and less stressful going into games. Guys are staying within themselves. It allows you to have the ability to make those come backs. They trust in each other. It helps a ton."
 
Now the Bearcats have arrived at the same spot they were in last season. They are in the regional championship game. One more win puts them in the Elite Eight. A year ago, Northwest lost 60-59 in overtime to Central Missouri.
 
"I think it will help us having some guys back from last year," Crooker said. "We came so close last year."
 
The Bearcats understand they have a tough chore ahead of them. Minnesota-Moorhead is good, really good. The Dragons beat Northwest 75-66 at Bearcat Arena in the first game of the season on Nov. 14, 2014.
 
"We didn't know who we were at that point in time," Crooker said. "Now we know our roles. We will be ready for them. We watched them yesterday when they played Central Missouri and they looked pretty good. They have good shooters everywhere."
 
Northwest also has good shooters at every spot.
 
"We have a lot of people telling us how great we are doing and everything," Crooker said. "Like coach says, that is drinking the poison. We have to prepare for the next game. We know it is going to be a grind."
 
So far, the Bearcats have done a great job grinding out victories against two teams that shoot the ball really well.
 
"This time of year, a bad break here or there can cost you," McCollum said. "There is a lot of luck that goes into it. The more you can control as far as getting back, blocking shots, the more you can take luck out of the equation. But sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way. We were fortunate it bounced our way last night."
 
Northwest players aren't satisfied yet. They want to taste more success.
 
"We know we have a battle ahead of us," Harris said. "It is going to be a dogfight. We are going to get our minds ready for it. We are extremely hungry. We feel we have a lot more to accomplish."