Northwest Missouri State Men's Basketball Game Notes (PDF)

Thursday, Nov. 14 | 6 p.m. | Bearcat Arena | Maryville, Mo.
Saint Mary (Kansas) at No. 1 Northwest Missouri State
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HOME OPENER THURSDAY
The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team (4-0 overall) will play its first home game of the 2019-2020 season on Thursday.
    Northwest will play host to the University of Saint Mary (Kansas). at 6 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

MATCHUP NOTES
Northwest holds a 3-0 lead in the all-time series vs. Saint Mary. The teams last met in 2007.

W, 95-39 vs. Saint Mary (11/15/05)
W, 77-36 vs. Saint Mary (12/04/06)
W, 93-32 vs. Saint Mary (11/17/07)

SCHOOL, MIAA WIN STREAK FALLS WITH NEXT VICTORY
Northwest has equaled its school record and the MIAA record for consecutive wins (42).
    Northwest won 42 in a row under head coach Henry "Hank" Iba in 1929-30 and 1930-31. Northwest went 31-0 in 1929-30 and then won its first 11 games of the 1930-31 season to set the MIAA consecutive win mark at 42.
    The Bearcats went 38-0 in 2018-19 and  have won their first four games of the 2019-20 season.
    Winona State set the NCAA Div. II all-time consecutive wins streak with 57 from Jan. 13, 2006-March 22, 2007.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest has compiled a home mark of 109-9.
    Northwest completed a perfect season in Bearcat Arena at home with a 17-0 record.

Year        Bearcat Arena Record
2011-12    12-1
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    17-0

NOVEMBER BRINGS WINS
Northwest has won its last 26 straight games it has played in the month of November. The Bearcats are 4-0 in November this season.
    The Bearcats went 7-0 in November in 2018-19. 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.

NO. 8 IN 3-POINTERS MADE
Northwest ranks No. 8 in the nation in three-pointers made (36).
    Junior Ryan Hawkins ranks No. 2 in the nation in three-pointers made (15).

SIX SHOOTING .500+
Northwest has six players shooting .500 or better from the field through the first four games of the season.
    As a squad, the Bearcats are shooting 53.2 percent from the field and 83.8 percent from the free throw line.

Name        FG%    3FG%    FT%
Hawkins    56.3    53.6    92.3
Hudgins    51.0    45.5    91.3
Bernard    53.1    25.0    63.6
Welty        50.0    53.3    100.0
Dreamer    56.3    16.7    85.7
Dougherty    52.6    0.0    33.3

IRON MEN
Northwest has four players averaging 37.1 minutes or more per game through the first four contests.
Player            Minutes Per Game
Trevor Hudgins    39.6
Ryan Welty        39.3
Ryan Hawkins    39.1
Diego Bernard    37.1

FULL 40 MINUTES
Northwest has had eight instances this season of a player going the full 40 minutes.
    Trevor Hudgins has played the entire 40 minutes of three of the first four games.
    Ryan Welty played the full 40 minutes against Minnesota-Crookston and vs. Southern Nazarene.
    Diego Bernard played all 80 minutes against MSU Moorhead and Minnesota-Crookston.
    Ryan Hawkins played the entire 40 minutes vs. Southern Nazarene.
    
40-Minute Men
Diego Bernard vs. MSU Moorhead
Diego Bernard vs. Crookston
Ryan Welty vs. Crookston
Trevor Hudgins vs. Crookston
Trevor Hudgins vs. Southern Nazarene
Ryan Welty vs. Southern Nazarene
Ryan Hawkins vs. Southern Nazarene
Trevor Hudgins vs. Daemen

CHARITY STRIPE
Northwest has made 67-of-80 free throws this season, while the opposition has only shot 53 free throws.

THIEVERY
The Bearcats have posted 30 steals through the first four games. Northwest has allowed only 12 steals this season.

HAWKINS NAMED MIAA MBB PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior forward Ryan Hawkins was named the MIAA men's basketball player of the week.
    In four games, Hawkins averaged 27.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.3 steals, while shooting 56.3 percent from the field and 53.6 from three-point range.
    Hawkins made 36-of-64 field goals and was 15-of-28 from three-point range in the four wins. Hawkins was nearly automatic at the free throw line as he sank 24-of-26 (92.3 percent) of his foul shots over the four-game stretch.

DIEGO GOES FOR 24
Sophomore guard Diego Bernard scored a career-high 24 points in Northwest's 92-71 win over MSU Moorhead in St. Joseph.
    Bernard is averaging 15.3 points per game and ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.8).

HAWKINS SETS SINGLE-GAME SCORING MARK
Junior Ryan Hawkins scored a school-record 44 points in Northwest's 100-88 win over No. 9 Southern Nazarene.
    Hawkins broke the previous mark of 43 set by Ed Maxwell vs. Southeast Missouri State in the 1963-64 season.
    Hawkins is only the third Northwest player to score 40 or more points in a single game.

Northwest Single-Game Scoring Records
1. Ryan Hawkins, Southern Nazarene (11/2/19) - 44
2. Ed Maxwell, SE Missouri State (1963-64) - 43
3. David Alvey, William Jewell (Mo.) (12/1/75) - 42
4. Joey Witthus, Minnesota State (3/16/19) - 39
5. Glenn Phillips vs. Missouri Western (12/3/85) - 38
    Darrell Foster vs. Olathe Clippers (2/22/44) - 38
    Justin Pitts vs. Minnesota State (3/13/16) - 38
8. Justin Pitts vs. UNK (1/19/17) - 37
9. David Alvey, SE Missouri State (1/1 /76) - 36
    David Alvey, Central Missouri (1/25/75) - 36
    Joey Witthus, Pittsburg State (1/31/19) - 36

HAWKINS EARNS MVP HONOR
For the second straight year a Bearcat captured the MVP honor as the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic.
    Junior Ryan Hawkins averaged 34.0 points and shot 68.6 percent from the field - including 70.0 percent from three-point range.
    Last year, Trevor Hudgins was named the MVP of the event.

TRIO NAMED TO ALL-TOURNEY TEAM AT SCB HOF CLASSIC
Ryan Hawkins, Diego Bernard and Trevor Hudgins were named to the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic All-Tournament Team.
    Hawkins earned tourney MVP honors after scoring a SCB Classic record 44 points against No. 9-ranked Southern Nazarene.
    Bernard averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, while he shot 66.7 percent from the field.
    Hudgins averaged 21.5 points, 8.0 assists with a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Hudgins was also a perfect 13-of-13 at the free throw line.

WELTY'S THREE-POINT PRECISION
Ryan Welty is the nation's active career leader in three-point field goal percentage. Welty has made 50.9 percent of his three-point shots (192-of-377).
    Welty ranks No. 2 among three-point accuracy shooters in all NCAA Divisions trailing Nick Penny (Carroll, Wis.; NCAA Div. III), who has made 51.8 percent of his career three-point shots (116-224).

NCAA II Active Career Leaders - 3-Point FG Pct.
1. Ryan Welty (Northwest Missouri)        .509
2. Mikkel Kolstand (Nova Southeastern)    .492
3. Dan Largey (Stonehill)            .476
4. Anthony Lee (Kutztown)            .468
5. Ronnie Silva (Adelphi)            .467

WELTY CLIMBS NORTHWEST'S 3-POINT CHART
Ryan Welty has made 188 career 3-pointers to rank No. 5 on Northwest's all-time 3-pointers made chart.

Northwest 3-Pointers Made in a Career
1.     Zach Schneider (2013-17)        370
2.    Justin Pitts (2014-18)        271
3.    Austin Meyer (2003-06)        215
4.    Conner Crooker (2013-16)        205
5.    Ryan Welty (2016-pres.)        188
6.    Scott Fleming (2000-03)        173
7.    Joey Witthus (2017-19)        172
8.    DeShaun Cooper (2009-14)    170
9.    Louis Jones (1987-89)        156
10.    Kelvin Parker (2001-04)        148

NEUTRAL COURT WIN STREAK
Northwest has won 35 straight games on neutral floors. It is the longest active win streak among all NCAA Div. I, II and III schools.
    All four of Northwest's wins this season came at Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Missouri.
    Northwest's last loss on a neutral floor came Nov. 13, 2015, vs. Upper Iowa (L, 76-72).

100-POINT MARK
Northwest has scored 100 or more points 11 times under head coach Ben McCollum.
    The Bearcats scored a 100-88 victory over No. 9 Southern Nazarene on Nov. 2 at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Civic Arena.

100-Point Games under McCollum
105-55 vs. Manhattan Christian (11/16/09)
104-67 vs. Graceland (11/28/09)
105-59 vs. Waldorf (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)
111-83 vs. Pittsburg State (1/31/19)
100-88 vs. Southern Nazarene (11/2/19)

FOR OPENERS
Northwest has produced an 8-3 mark in season openers for head coach Ben McCollum.
    The Bearcats have won their last four season openers.

Season Openers Since 2009-10
W, 85-65 vs. Daemen (11/1/19)
W, 72-70 OT vs. Northern State (11/3/18)
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)

PRESEASON NO. 1
Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State is atop the NABC/Division II pre-season for the second time in three years. Northwest is the only school to hold the top ranking in the pre-season poll after winning a national title over the last eight years.

NORTHWEST GOES TOE TO TOE WITH DUKE BLUE DEVILS
The defending NCAA Division II national champions gave the Duke Blue Devils everything they could and delighted the Bearcat contingent who trekked to Cameron Indoor Stadium with a strong finish in a 69-63 exhibition game loss.

HUDGINS BUSTS OUT FOR 27
Trevor Hudgins scored a game-high 27 points against the No. 4-ranked Duke Blue Devils.
    Hudgins went 9-of-18 from the floor, including 7-of-13 from three-point range against Duke. He also handed out a team-high four assists.

HAWK HANGS WITH DUKE
Junior forward Ryan Hawkins put up 16 points and nine rebounds against the Duke Blue Devils. He also caught the eye of Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
    "The kid, Hawkins is a good player too," Krzyzewski said in the postgame press press conference.

THREE-BALL
Northwest drained 15-of-34 three-point shots against Duke. Meanwhile, the Bearcats limited the Blue Devils to 2-of-16 shooting from beyond the three-point arc.
104 WINS OVER LAST FOUR SEASONS
Northwest has been playing on a different level the last four seasons. The Bearcats have posted a record of 104-5 since the start of the 2016-17 season. Northwest went 35-1 in 2016-17 and won the national title. The Bearcats went 27-4 in 2017-18, before going 38-0 and winning their second national crown in 2018-19.

FIFTH ALL-TIME PERFECT DIVISION II SEASON
Northwest became only the fifth NCAA Division II basketball program to complete a perfect regular season and capture the national title. Northwest went 38-0 and won the program's second national championship.

Div. II Undefeated Champions
Northwest Mo. St. (38-0), 2018-19
Findlay (36-0), 2008-09
Fort Hays State (34-0),  1995-96
Cal State Bakersfield (33-0), 1992-93
Evansville (29-0) 1964-65

20+ WINS IN 8 STRAIGHT SEASONS
Northwest is one of five NCAA Division II teams in the nation to have won 20 or more games in eight consecutive seasons. Northwest (8), Bellarmine (11), Indiana Pa. (11), Lincoln Memorial (10) and West Liberty (15) have each surpassed the 20-win mark in at least eight straight seasons.

SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS
The Bearcats set the MIAA record for wins (38) in a season in 2018-19.
    Northwest and Ferris State own the NCAA Division II single-season record for wins. Ferris State recorded 38 victories in the 2017-18 season.

19 NCAA TOURNAMENTS
Northwest has earned 19 NCAA Tournament appearances with a recod of 29-20. Northwest has served as the NCAA Central Region host in 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.
    Northwest has made four Elite Eight appearances (2001-02, 2003-04, 2016-17, 2018-19).

AMONG THE BEST
In 2018-19, Northwest ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring margin (+20.7) and in turnovers per game (7.8).
    Northwest ranked No. 2 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.78) and total 3-point field goals made (404).
    The Bearcats ranked No. 3 in and scoring defense (61.7).

SHOOTING IT WELL
Northwest has shot 50 percent or better from the field in 22 of its 38 games. Northwest has also shot 50 percent or better in six road games and on five neutral courts.

MIAA REIGN CONTINUES
In 2018-19, Northwest became the first school in MIAA history to win six consecutive MIAA regular season titles. The Bearcats also became the first MIAA program to win four consecutive league tournament titles in 2018-19.

PRESEASON POLLS
Northwest has been picked to win the preseason MIAA coaches and media polls.

2019-20 MIAA Media Poll
1.     Northwest Missouri (19) - 279
2.     Missouri Southern (1) - 259
3.     Washburn - 238
4.     Fort Hays State - 198
5.     Pittsburg State - 183
6.     Lincoln - 156
7.     Central Missouri - 140
8.     Emporia State - 123
9.     Missouri Western - 120
10.    Newman - 103
11.    Rogers State - 102
12.    Northeastern State - 88
13.     Nebraska-Kearney - 64
14.    Central Oklahoma - 46


2019-20 MIAA Coaches Poll
1.     Northwest Missouri (13) - 169
2.     Missouri Southern (1) - 157
3.     Washburn - 131
4.     Fort Hays State - 124
5.     Northeastern State - 99
6.     Central Missouri - 96
7.     Lincoln - 93
8.       Pittsburg State - 92
9.    Rogers State - 68
10.    Emporia State - 66
11.    Newman - 61
12.     Missouri Western - 58
13.     Central Oklahoma - 44
14.    Nebraska-Kearney - 16

MCCOLLUM RANKS NO. 6 IN WIN PERCENTAGE
Northwest head coach Ben McCollum ranks No. 6 among active NCAA Division II coaches in winning percentage with a minimum of 10 years as a head coach.
    McCollum has guided the Bearcats to a mark of 245-75 (.766 winning percentage) in his 11th season at the helm of the Northwest program.

NCAA Div. II Head Coach Win Percentage (Min. 10 yrs.)
1. Jim Crutchfield (Nova Southeastern)    .844 (406-75, 16 yrs.)
2. Josh Schertz (Lincoln Memorial)    .816 (289-65, 12 yrs.)
3. Scott Davenport (Bellarmine)    .774 (346-101, 14 yrs.)
4. Burt Paddock (Davenport)    .769 (289-87, 12 yrs.)
5. Jeff Young (Walsh)    .767 (359-109, 17 yrs.)
6. Ben McCollum (Northwest Mo. St.)    .766 (245-75, 11 yrs.)
7. Mike Jones (Mississippi College)    .759 (331-105, 17 yrs.)
8. Ken Ammann (Concordia, Calif.)    .759 (469-149, 19 yrs.)
9. Rodney Watson (Southern Indiana)    .757 (231-74, 11 yrs.)
10. Joe Lombardi (Indiana, Pa.)    .754 (307-100, 14 yrs.)
Source: NCAA Statistics

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.