Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic (Nov. 3-4 - St. Joseph, Mo.)
Nov. 3, No 5 Northwest Missouri State vs. Northern State, 7:45 p.m. | MIAA Network Stream | Audio | Live Stats
Nov. 4, No. 5 Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 13 Ferris State, 5:30 p.m. | MIAA Network Stream | Audio | Live Stats

SMALL COLLEGE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASSIC
The No. 5-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team will tip off it season in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic.
    The SCB Hall of Fame Classic will take place Saturday and Sunday, November 3 and 4 at the St. Joseph Civic Arena.
    The Bearcats will match up against Northern State on Sat., Nov. 3, at 7:45 p.m. Northwest will then battle No. 13 Ferris State on Sun., Nov. 4, at 5:30 p.m. Last season, Ferris State captured the NCAA Div. II title by defeating Northern State in the championship game.

20 OR MORE WINS IN 7 STRAIGHT SEASONS
Northwest is one of five teams in the nation to have won 20 or more games in seven consecutive seasons. Northwest, Bellarmine, Indiana (Pa.), Lincoln Memorial and West Liberty have each surpassed the 20-win mark in each of the last seven years.

MIAA TITLE DEFENSE
Northwest has won five consecutive MIAA regular season titles under 10th-year head coach Ben McCollum. Missouri State under the direction of head coach Bill Thomas is the only other program to have won five straight MIAA regular titles (1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970).
    McCollum has also guided the Bearcats to three straight MIAA tournament championships. Southeast Missouri State also won three consecutive MIAA tournament titles in 1985, 1986 and 1987. No MIAA school has ever won four straight tourney crowns.

FOR OPENERS
Northwest has produced a 6-3 mark in season openers for head coach Ben McCollum.
    The Bearcats have won their last two seasons openers.

Season Openers Since 2009-10
W, 89-65 vs. Upper Iowa (11/10/17)
W, 87-52 vs. Upper Iowa (11/11/16)
L, 76-72 vs. Upper Iowa (11/13/15)
L, 75-66 vs. MSU-Moorhead (11/14/14)
W, 91-78 vs. Upper Iowa (11/9/13)
W, 86-65 vs. Graceland (11/11/12)
W, 66-62 at UMKC (11/11/11)
L, 72-67 vs. SW Minnesota St. (11/14/10)
W, 105-55 vs. Manhattan Christian (11/16/09)

NOVEMBER BRINGS WINS
Northwest has won its last 15 straight games it has played in the month of November. Northwest was a 7-0 in the month of November in 2017-18. The Bearcats were a perfect 7-0 in November in its run to the national championship in the 2016-17 season.
    Northwest's last loss in November came Nov. 19, 2015 at Augustana. The Vikings scored a 79-77 win over the Bearcats in Sioux Falls, S.D.

PRESEASON POLLS
Northwest was tabbed to win the preseason MIAA poll by the members of the media. The coaches MIAA preseason poll had Northwest in the No. 2 spot behind Missouri Southern.

2018-19 MIAA Media Poll
1.     Northwest Missouri (6) - 262
2.     Missouri Southern (10) - 261
3.     Washburn (3) - 237
4.     Central Missouri - 225
5.     Pittsburg State (1) - 212
6.     Fort Hays State (1) - 208
7.     Central Oklahoma - 163
8.     Lindenwood - 150
9.     Nebraska Kearney - 123
10.     Lincoln - 119
11.     Emporia State - 79
12.     Missouri Western - 66
    Southwest Baptist - 66
14.     Northeastern State - 35

2018-19 MIAA Coaches Poll
1.     Missouri Southern (6) - 157
2.     Northwest Missouri (7) - 155
3.     Washburn (1) - 132
4.     Central Missouri - 128
5.     Central Oklahoma - 118
        Pittsburg State - 118
7.     Fort Hays State - 104
8.     Lindenwood - 87
9.     Lincoln - 68
10.     Nebraska Kearney - 66
11.     Emporia State - 47
12.     Northeastern State - 40
13.     Southwest Baptist - 30
14.     Missouri Western - 24

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE, LIMITED MISCUES
Last season, Northwest Missouri State ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense by limiting opponents to 59.8 points per game. Northwest also ranked No. 1 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game in 2017-18. Northwest averaged 8.7 turnovers game last season.

18 NCAA TOURNAMENTS
Northwest has earned 18 NCAA Tournament appearances with a recod of 23-20. Northwest has served as the NCAA Central Region host in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
    Northwest has made three Elite Eight appearances (2001-02, 2003-04, 2016-17).
    The Bearcats captured the program's first national championships in the 2016-17 season.

PRESS CONFERENCE TUESDAY AT PIZZA RANCH
Northwest head coach Ben McCollum will be available each Tuesday from Noon - 1 p.m. for a press conference at the Maryville Pizza Ranch.