BOX SCORE (PDF)

MARYVILLE, Missouri - The No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcat men's basketball team rolled to an 87-53 MIAA win over the visiting Lindenwood Lions at Bearcat Arena.

Northwest (10-0 overall, 2-0 MIAA) shot 55.2 percent from the floor and a blistering 57.1 percent from the three-point arc in the victory. Lindenwood fell to 7-5 overall and 1-1 in MIAA play.

Ryan Hawkins posted his fifth double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Hawkins is the top rebounder in the MIAA this season at 11.0 rebounds per game.

Joey Witthus ignited the Bearcat offense as he went 7-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Witthus scored a game-high 19 points.

The Bearcats turned a seven-point game at 31-24 to a 13-point bulge at the half with a 7-1 run in the final 1:46 of the first half. 

Northwest began the second half with a 10-3 run that gave the Bearcats a 21-point lead at 49-28 with 15:42 remaining in the contest. Northwest's lead did not dip below 21 points in the final 15 minutes of the game and grew to as many as 34 as the Bearcats claimed an 87-53 triumph.

Northwest's next action will be at home on Dec. 18 vs. Texas A&M-International. Tip is set for 5 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

NOTES: Northwest improved to 15-1 all-time vs. Lindenwood ... the Bearcats have won 14 straight games in the month of December ... Northwest won the rebounding battle for the 10th time this season, 33-26 ... Northwest had six different players make a three-point basket ... Northwest limited its mistakes to only seven turnovers, while forcing Lindenwood into 19 turnovers.