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By David Boyce  |  Northwest Basketball at Missouri Western  |  Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016  |  MWSU Field House  |  St. Joseph, Mo.
Women's Basketball @ 3 p.m.  |  Women's Live Stats  |  Men's Basketball @ 5 p.m.  |  Men's Live Stats  |  Live Video  |  Live Audio

MARYVILLE, Mo. - Northwest Missouri State men's basketball coach Ben McCollum sensed the problem three games into the season.
 
The problem truly hit home when the Bearcats were on the road at Lincoln and Lindenwood just before Christmas break. Northwest lost both games. McCollum has articulated the problem to his players on more than one occasion, and the players hear him. They repeat his words in postgame interviews.
 
The Bearcats need to play hungry. Too often this season, Northwest has allowed its opponent to dictate the action and then the Bearcats react.
 
To some degree, the Bearcats have been able to prevail over this shortcoming. The most recent example came Monday in a 78-74 victory over Northeastern State at Bearcat Arena.
 
The game was closer than it should have been.
 
"We just got unfocused," said sophomore guard Justin Pitts. "We kind of went away from the things we did to get those stops. We have to come in, buckle down, play defense and box out."
 
In that game, Northwest blew a 26-16 lead midway through the first half, were tied 38-38 at halftime and trailed as late as 1:40 left in the game.
 
"Sometimes," Northwest senior Conner Crooker said, "when we get a feel-good going and get a lead, we think it is go come to us. We need to keep our foot on their throat."
 
The Bearcats, 9-4, head into their rival game at Missouri Western 5p.m. Saturday, in good shape in the conference race. At 6-2 in the MIAA, Northwest sits in a tie with Lindenwood for first place, a half-game ahead of Missouri Southern and a full game in front of Lincoln, Fort Hays State, Washburn and Nebraska-Kearney.
 
But McCollum and the players know they won't stay in first place if they don't come out and play with hunger from opening tip to the sound of the final buzzer.
 
"We need to play a lot hungrier than we have," McCollum said. "Right now, as far as a basketball team, we are not very hungry to win a conference championship. It is showing on the floor. It is showing defensively. It is showing on 50/50 balls. We need to find a way to get that back."
 
The Bearcats had five days this week without the worry of classes to try to correct the problem before facing Western.
 
"It starts in practice," Crooker said. "I think we can improve a lot. From our last two games, it has shown we need to improve a lot. It is more our defense. Our offense is kind of clicking now. It is really our D-boards. We have to get a lot of rebounds."
 
After Monday's game, McCollum planned to get plenty done in practice this week.
 
"We need to develop that intensity and hunger in practice and then go into Missouri Western, which is playing so well right now, and hopefully come out with a win," McCollum said.
 
"We are not a tough basketball team right now. Teams are going to come after you. They are going to compete. This is their championship. We need to understand that and get ourselves locked in and ready to go."
 
It would be unwise for the Bearcats to look at Western's record and think they have an easy road to a victory. The Griffons are 5-9 overall and 3-5 in the MIAA, but they are coming off two wins, beating Northeastern State 84-69 and Central Oklahoma 77-60.
 
Playing at Western might be the perfect tonic for the Bearcats to regain their desire to win every second of a game. They are entering an environment in which the majority of the fans want to see Northwest lose in the worst way.
 
"I like the atmosphere," Crooker said. "I have been here for four years and it is a really good game. We go there and they have a ton of people there. It is a rivalry. It is always nice to beat them over there.
 
 "Like coach Mac says, we have to have an emotional high throughout the game and stay intense."