Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Wed., Jan. 9  | vs. Emporia State | 7:30 p.m. | Maryville, Mo. (Bearcat Arena)
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RETURN TO BEARCAT ARENA
The No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team (14-0 overall, 4-0 MIAA) returns to Bearcat Arena this Wednesday (Emporia State, 7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (Washburn, 3:30 p.m.).

MILITARY DAY
All members of the military and law enforcement will gain free admission for Wednesday's doubleheader vs. Emporia State. The women's game will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the men's game to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.

SIX UNBEATENS REMAIN
Northwest will enter this week's slate of MIAA games as one of six undefeated teams in the nation. Northwest is joined in the list of unbeaten squads by Ashland (13-0), Bellarmine (12-0), Indiana Pa. (13-0), Nova Southeastern (12-0) and S.C. Aiken (12-0).
    Northwest owns the nation's longest current win streak at 14.

EMPORIA STATE
The Hornets are 6-6 on the season and 1-2 in MIAA action. Emporia State opened up league play with a 60-56 win at Nebraska-Kearney on Dec. 6. ESU lost at Fort Hays State (L, 86-78) on Dec. 8 and at home on Saturday against Washburn (L, 94-81).
    ESU is under the direction of first-year head coach Craig Doty. Doty has captured three national titles as a head coach at Graceland University (2018) and Rock Valley College (2014, 2016).

ALL-TIME SERIES
Northwest owns a 42-23 lead in the all-time series vs. Emporia State. The Bearcats have won three in a row and nine of the last 10 vs. the Hornets.

CENTRAL REGION RANKINGS
Northwest holds down the top spot in the D2SIDA Central Region rankings that were released on Dec. 17. Northwest owns all six first-place votes in the region.

D2SIDA CENTRAL REGION
1.   Northwest Missouri State
2.   Missouri Southern
3.   Southern Nazarene
4.   St. Cloud State
5.   Wayne State
6.   Washburn
7.   Northern State
8.   Pittsburg State
9.   Minnesota State, Mankato
10. Sioux Falls

BEARCATS RANKED NO. 2
Northwest is ranked No. 2 in the nation in both Division II top 25 polls.
    Bellarmine is ranked No. 1 with 16 first-place votes in the NABC poll. Bellarmine is ranked No. 1 with 12 first-place votes in the D2SIDA poll.
    Northwest is receiving four first-place votes in D2SIDA's top 25.

HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE
Northwest has enjoyed a tremendous home-court advantage in the last six-plus seasons in Bearcat Arena. Northwest has put together a mark of 80-5 in Bearcat Arena over its last 85 home games. The Bearcats are 7-0 at home this year.

Northwest in Bearcat Arena (since 2012-13)
2012-13 - 12-3
2013-14 - 12-1
2014-15 - 13-2
2015-16 - 13-0
2016-17 - 18-0
2017-18 - 12-2
2018-19 - 7-0

ROAD STREAK AS WELL
Northwest ran its road winning streak to seven in a row with a pair of triumphs at Northeastern State (W, 105-70) and at Central Oklahoma (W, 78-67).
    Northwest's seven-game road win streak ranks T-No. 2 in the nation behind only Bellermine's 10-game road win streak.

Current Road Win Streaks
1. Bellarmine - 10
2. Northwest Missouri State - 7
    Lee - 7
4. Morehouse - 6
    UNC Pembroke - 6
    Queens (NY) - 6

HAWKINS NAMED MIAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Northwest Missouri State University sophomore Ryan Hawkins has been named the MIAA co-player of the week. Hawkins will share the honor with Lincoln's Terrance Smith.
    Hawkins (Atlantic, Iowa) averaged 26.0 points per game, 4.3 steals per game and shot 66.7 percent from the field (including 52.2 percent from 3-point range) in a trio of Northwest Missouri State victories.
    Hawkins went for a career-high 31 points on 10-of-13 shooting (5-of-7 3-point FGs) in a 105-70 win at Northeastern State. Hawkins added five steals and a block while also draining all six of his free throw attempts in the Bearcats's road victory.
    He scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting and chipped in with eight rebounds and two steals in a 78-67 road triumph at Central Oklahoma.
    Hawkins posted a then-career-high 29 points, eight rebounds, six steals and a block in a 108-58 victory over Simpson on Dec. 30. Hawkins went 11-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-8 from three-point range against the Storm.

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.

20 3-POINTERS FOR NORTHWEST STARTERS
Each of the five starters in the Bearcat lineup has drained at least 20 three-pointers this season.
    Joey Witthus and Ryan Hawkins lead the way with 43 three-pointers made. Ryan Welty ranks third with 30 three-pointers drained. Trevor Hudgins has sank 22 three-pointers and Diego Bernard has made 20 from three-point range.

HUDGINS IS SCORING, DISHING
Redshirt freshman Trevor Hudgins ranks No. 2 in the nation among freshman scorers at 18.6 points per game. Only Walsh's JT Shumate is averaging more as a freshman at 21.6 points per game.
    Hudgins leads the MIAA in assists per game (6.2). He ranks No. 2 in the MIAA and No. 5 in the nation in turnover-to-assist ratio (3.6).
    He ranks No. 8 in the MIAA in field goal percentage (51.0).

30-POINT GAMES
Senior Joey Witthus notched his second 30-plus scoring performance this season and third of his career with a 34-point outburst in Northwest's 78-67 road win over Central Oklahoma (Jan. 5).
    Witthus scored 33 on Nov. 19 vs. Illinois-Springfield. Witthus posted a 30-point game for Minnesota State vs. Missouri Southern (Nov. 12, 2016).

30-Point Scoring Games in 2018-19
34, Joey Witthus at Central Oklahoma (1/5/19)
31, Ryan Hawkins at Northeastern State (1/3/19)
33, Joey Witthus vs. Illinois-Springfield (11/19/18)

HAWKINS DOUBLES UP
Sophomore forward Ryan Hawkins has collected a team-best six double-doubles. Hawkins has reached double figures in rebounds in seven games.

HAWK TOPS MIAA IN BOARDS
Hawkins leads the MIAA in rebounding and ranks No. 9 in the nation in rebounding (9.9 rpg).
    He is tops in the MIAA and No. 10 in the nation in steals (34).
    Hawk ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in FG percentage (62.0).
    Hawkins ranks No. 5 in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (8.00). He ranks No. 14 in the nation in total rebounds (138).

SINGLE-GAME LEADER IN MIAA
Ryan Hawkins holds the MIAA single-game lead in rebounds (18) and steals (6) this season.

HAWKINS IS OFF THE CHARTS IN HIS LAST 9
In his last nine games, Ryan Hawkins is averaging a team-best 19.7 points per game, has grabbed 9.8 rebounds per contest and shot 66.0 percent from the field. Hawkins has made 26 three-pointers (48.1 percent) and has posted a team-best 25 steals.

HAWK IN MIAA PLAY
Ryan Hawkins is averaging 20.3 points per game and shooting 67.5 percent from the field through four MIAA games. Hawkins has made 27-of-40 field goal attempts (including 11-fo-22 three-pointers), while being a perfect 16-of-16 at the free throw line. Hawkins has registered a team-best 10 steals.

DIEGO OFF THE BENCH
Freshman guard Diego Bernard has provided a spark off the bench. Bernard is averaging 11.3 points per game and has reached double-figure scoring in 10 straight contests.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Northwest ranks No. 1 in the nation in fewest turnovers (7.8 per game). Northwest also ranks No. 1 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.08). The Bearcats rank No. 3 in turnover margin (7.6).

THE NAME OF THE GAME
The goal in basketball is to outscore the opposition and Northwest is doing that as good as anyone in the nation this season. Northwest ranks No. 2 in scoring margin (+26.0).

REALLY GOOD FROM DEEP
Northwest ranks No. 1 in the nation three-point field goal percentage (45.8 percent).
    Northwest ranks No. 4 in the nation with 170 made 3-pointers. The Bearcats drained 19 three-pointers against Northeastern State (Jan. 3).
    Northwest possesses two of the top three-point percentage shooters in the MIAA. Joey Witthus ranks No. 1 in the league at 50.0 percent (43-of-86), while Ryan Hawkins ranks No. 3 in the MIAA at 48.3 percent (43-of-89).

ALWAYS DEFENSIVE
Northwest ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in scoring defense by giving up only 62.9 points per game. The Bearcats rank No. 7 in the nation in scoring defense.

SHOOTING IT WELL
The Bearcats are shooting 53.8 percent from the floor, which ranks No. 4 in the nation. The Bearcats shot a season-best 64.3 percent in a 105-70 win at Northeastern State (Jan. 3).

WITTHUS FOR THREE
Senior Joey Witthus has drained 238 career three-pointers to ranks No. 7 among the Division II active career leaders.
    Witthus made 137 three-pointers in his first two collegiate seasons at Minnesota State, Mankato. Witthus has made 101 triples in time at Northwest.

NCAA Active Career Leaders - 3-Pointers
1. Jarrett Brodbeck (Regis)        326
2. Jack Laffey (Adelphi)        292
3. Jason Jolly (Fairmont State)    262
4. Jonathan Lawton (Fla. Southern)    249
5. Kenny Hairston (Limestone)    248
6. Elyjah Clark (Missouri Southern)    240
7. Joey Witthus (Northwest Missouri)    238
8. Drew Geubert (Sioux Falls)        236
9. Ryan Boulter (Merrimack)        234
10. Levi Holmes III (Saint Michael's)    233

WELTY'S THREE-POINT PRECISION
Junior Ryan Welty is the nation's active career leader in three-point field goal percentage. Welty has made 53.9 percent of his three-point shots (137-of-254).

NCAA Active Career Leaders - 3-Point FG Pct.
1. Ryan Welty (Northwest Missouri)    .539
2. Adam Bonk (Wisconsin-Parkside)    .482
3. Anthony Lee (Kutztown)        .478
4. Dan Largey (Stonehill)        .476
5. Kevin Krieger (Minnesota State)    .456

100-POINT MARK
Northwest has reached 100 points four times this season - the first time since 1999-2000 that Northwest has scored 100 or more points four times in the same season.
    Northwest has scored 100 or more points nine times under head coach Ben McCollum.

100-Point Games under McCollum
105-55 vs. Manhattan Christian (11/16/09)
104-67 vs. Graceland (11/28/09)
105-59 vs. Waldord (12/16/13)
104-69 at Southwest Baptist (1/16/14)
103-58 vs. Missouri Valley (12/13/16)
100-86 vs. Ferris State (11/3/18)
100-66 vs. Midland (12/1/18)
108-58 vs. Simpson (12/30/18)
105-70 at Northeastern State (1/3/19)

16 STRAIGHT DECEMBER WINS
Northwest has won its last 16 games in the month of December. Northwest was 5-0 in December in both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
    The Bearcats won their last game in December in the 2015-16 season. Northwest's last loss in the month of December came Dec. 20, 2015, at Lindenwood (L, 68-52).

NORTHWEST WITH 25 ASSISTS VS DUSTDEVILS
Northwest was credited with 25 assists in its 85-46 win over Texas A&M-International. It was the most assists by a Bearcat team since it put up 25 assists vs. Baker on Nov. 24, 2009.

25+ Assists since 2000
27 vs. Manhattan Christian (Dec. 8, 2001)
27 vs. Central Missouri (Feb. 6, 2002)
27 vs. University of Saint Mary (Nov. 15, 2005)
26 vs. Calvary Bible College (Dec. 5, 2002)
25 vs. William Woods (Dec. 17, 2008)
25 vs. Baker (Nov. 24, 2009)
25 vs. Texas A&M-International (Dec. 18, 2018)

HUDGINS TAKES MVP HONORS
Redshirt freshman guard Trevor Hudgins (Manhattan, Kansas) earned MVP honors after leading the Bearcats to a pair of wins over Northern State and No. 13 Ferris State in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. Hudgins averaged 25.5 points, 5.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in the two games.

CAN'T MISS 'CATS
Northwest began the Ferris State contest by making its first 10 three-point field goals. The Bearcats finished the game having drained 14 triples against the Bulldogs.

GETTING TO THE LINE
Northwest made 20 free throws in each of its first two games this season.
    The Bearcats went 20-of-28 against Northern State. Northwest followed that up with 20-of-23 at the line vs. Ferris State.

BRING ON THE BEST
The Bearcats began this season with wins over both teams that took part in the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship. Ferris State defeated Northern State in the title game in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ferris State had won 27 consecutive games before falling to Northwest.

WORKING OVERTIME
Northwest opened the season with a 72-70 overtime win over Northern State. The Bearcats are 7-3 all-time under head coach Ben McCollum in overtime games.

NEUTRAL SITE STREAK IS ALIVE AND WELL
Northwest has won 26 straight games at neutral sites, including this past Monday's 85-66 win over Illinois-Springfield.
    Northwest has opened this season with five neutral site wins.The Bearcats were 7-0 in 2017-18 and 8-0 in 2016-17 on neutral site courts. The Bearcats won their final six neutral site games in 2015-16 following a season-opening 76-72 loss to Upper Iowa in St. Joseph on Nov. 13, 2015.

NOVEMBER BRINGS WINS
Northwest has won its last 22 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.

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.

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

18 NCAA TOURNAMENTS
Northwest has earned 18 NCAA Tournament appearances with a record 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.

2019 MIAA TOURNAMENT
The MIAA Basketball post-season tournament will be held in Kansas City for the 17th consecutive season. For the first time, the field in Kansas City will include 10 men's and 10 women's teams and will be played over 5 days, March 6-10, 2019.  The winners of both the men's and women's tournament will receive the automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament.

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.