Northwest Missouri State Men's Basketball Notes (PDF)

Friday, Dec. 20 | 6 p.m. | Bearcat Arena | Maryville, Mo.
Truman State at No. 2 Northwest Missouri State
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NORTHWEST, TRUMAN STATE RENEW RIVALRY FRIDAY
The No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team (9-1 overall, 1-1 MIAA) will play host to the Truman State University Bulldogs (5-3 overall) before the holiday break.
    Northwest and Truman State will tip Friday at 6 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

LONG-TIME FOES
Northwest and Truman State will meet for the 198th time with the Bearcats holding a 103-94 edge in the all-time series. The programs first met in the 1919-1920 season.
    The Bearcats have won the last two non-conference meetings between the two schools in Maryville. Northwest posted a 90-70 triumph on Nov. 18, 2017, and then added an 87-60 victory last season in Bearcat Arena on Nov. 16, 2018.

SIZZLING SHOOTING
Northwest shot a season-high 66.7% (42-of-63 FGs) in a 110-66 victory over Central Methodist on Monday. The Bearcats also produced a season-high 16 steals against the Eagles.
    Northwest has shot 54.3 percent or better in seven of its first 10 games this season.

56.6% vs. Daemen (Nov. 1)
58.7% vs. Southern Nazarene (Nov. 2)
55.6% vs. MSU Moorhead (Nov. 9)
55.6% vs. Saint Mary (Nov. 14)
59.4% vs. William Jewell (Nov. 21)
54.3% at Lincoln (Dec. 5)
66.7% vs. Central Methodist (Dec. 16)

'CATS, MCCOLLUM ROLLING IN BIG VICTORIES
Northwest moved to 9-1 with its seventh victory by 20 or more points this season in a 110-66 triumph over Central Methodist.
    Under head coach Ben McCollum the Bearcats are 96-2 in games decided by 20 points or more.
    Northwest has won 94 consecutive games when the final scoring margin is 20 or more points. The last time the Bearcats lost a game by 20 points or more came Jan. 20, 2010, when Missouri Southern posted an 88-63 win in Joplin, Missouri.

100-POINT MARK
Northwest has scored 100 or more points 13 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.
    Northwest reached the 100-point mark for the second time this season with a 102-59 triumph over William Jewell Nov. 21 at Bearcat Arena.
    The Bearcats blitzed Central Methodist with a 110-66 triumph at home on Dec. 16 for their third 100-point game of the 2019-2020 season.

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)
102-59 vs. William Jewell (11/21/19)
110-66 vs. Central Methodist (12/16/19)

STILL SOME STREAKS ALIVE
Despite having its 46-game win streak, 24-game conference win streak and 16-game road win streak snapped, Northwest still possesses the longest win streak in the nation in neutral court games with 36.
    The Bearcats's 21-game home win streak ranks as the sixth-longest streak in the nation.  It ranks T-No. 2 among NCAA Division II teams.

Home Court
West Texas A&M (II) – 32
Gonzaga (I) – 28
Plattsburg State (III) – 28
Kansas (I) – 27
Pomona-Pitzer (III) – 25
Missouri Southern (II) – 21
Northwest Missouri State (II) – 21
St. Edward's (II) – 20
Swarthmore (III) – 20
Last loss - 3/10/18 vs. Minnesota State (L, 60-50)

Neutral Court
Northwest Missouri State (II) – 36
WashU (III) – 15
Claremont-M-S (III) – 10
Wittenberg (III) – 10
Virginia (I) – 8
Adelphi (II) – 7
Union (III) – 7
Trinity (III) – 7
Last loss - 11/13/15 vs. Upper Iowa (L, 76-72)

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest has compiled a home mark of 113-9.
    Northwest is 4-0 at home this season with wins over Saint Mary (92-40), William Jewell (102-59), Illinois-Springfield (91-56) and Central Methodist (110-66).
    With those four wins at home to start the 2019-20 season, Northwest has won 21 consecutive home contests.

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
2019-20    4-0

HAWKINS LEADS SCORING EFFORT
Junior Ryan Hawkins is leading the Bearcats in scoring at 24.2 points per game. Hawkins is shooting 58.2% from the field.
    Hawkins has buried a team-best 29 three-pointers and is 43-of-51 (84.3%) at the free throw line.
    Hawkins also leads the team in rebounding (7.1/game) and boasts a team-high 24 steals.

MOVE OVER AP, HAWK IS CLIMBING
Ryan Hawkins moved into the No. 10 spot on Northwest's all-time steals list with 126 career thefts.
    Hawkins had five steals in Northwest's 110-66 win over Central Methodist to move past the previous holder of the No. 10 spot - Andy Peterson. Peterson collected 125 career steals from 2005-2008. Peterson currently serves as Northwest's Director of Athletics.

Northwest Steals in a Career
1.     Scott Fleming (2000-2003)        305
2.    Kelvin Parker (2001-2004)        209
3.     Mark Yager (1979-1982)        188
4.    Justin Pitts (2014-2018)        186
5.    Victor Coleman (1981-1984)    174
6.    Matt Wallace (2011-2015)        158
7.    Gerald Harris (1986-1988)        153
8.    Hunter Henry (2006-2009)        146
9.    DeShaun Cooper (2009-2014)    132
10.    Ryan Hawkins (2017-pres.)        126

TREVOR IS SCORING, DISHING
Trevor Hudgins set a career-high with 13 assists in Northwest's 110-66 win over Central Methodist. It's the fourth time this season that Hudgins has surpassed double figures in assists.
    Hudgins has handed out 73 assists, which ranks No. 6 in the nation.
    Hudgins is averaging 15.6 points and 7.3 assists per game. He has a 4.56 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks No. 7 in the nation. Hudgins has 73 assists to go against 16 turnovers in 353 minutes of action.

NCAA Div. II Total Assists
1. Brandon Jacobs (Pace)            97
2. Brendan Hoban (Holy Family)        84
3. Adam Dworsky (Southeastern Oklahoma)    78
    Tom Johnson (Central State)        78
5. Jordan Mello-Klein (Bentley)        74
6. Trevor Hudgins (Northwest Mo. St.)    73
     KJ Lesure (Arkansas-Monticello)        73
8. D'Angelo Hughes (Ferris State)        72
9. Mikey Howell (UC San Diego)        70
10. Max Cody (Minot State)            69
      Fred Mulbah (Pittsburgh-Johnstown)    69
      August Haas (St. Edward's)            69

NCAA Div. II Assist to Turnover Ratio
1. Shane Wissink (Mo.-St. Louis)        10.50
2. Kerney Lane (Alabama Huntsville)        9.00
3. Parker Chitty (Bellarmine)            7.00
4. Devin Whitelow (Winona State)        5.13
5. Ryan Roland (Le Moyne)            4.90
6. Mikey Howell (UC San Diego)        4.67
7. Trevor Hudgins (Northwest Mo. St.)    4.56
8. Tommy Lucca (Michigan Tech)        4.40
    Dru Nickson (Embry-Riddle)            4.40
10. Luke Dyer (West Liberty)            4.00
      Demond Parker (Cedarville)        4.00

DB HITTING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Over his last seven games, sophomore guard Diego Bernard is averaging 18.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 steals and is shooting 54.5% from the field. Bernard is 9-of-19 from three-point range and 36-of-44 (81.8%) from the foul line.
    He has scored 14 or more points in each of the last seven contests.

SHOOTING LIGHTS OUTS
Northwest has eight players shooting 48.6% or better from the field this season. As a squad, the Bearcats are shooting 53.6% from the field, 44.3% from 3-point range and 81.2% from the free throw line.

Name        FG%    3FG%    FT%    PPG
Hawkins    58.2    46.0    84.3    24.2
Bernard    52.7    40.0    77.6    16.6
Hudgins    48.6    35.6    84.2    15.6
Dreamer    53.4    38.9    73.3    8.7
Welty        50.0    54.1    100.0    7.9
Dougherty    62.9    60.0    61.5    6.9
Waters        48.6    41.2    100.0    6.0
Laing            51.9    50.0    50.0    5.0

NO. 1 FROM DISTANCE
Northwest ranks No. 1 in the nation in three-point field goal percentage at 44.3%. Northwest has drained 112-of-253 three-pointers this season.

NCAA Div. II Team 3-Point Field Goal%
1.     Northwest Mo. St.    43.1% (112-253)
2.    Nova Southeastern    44.2% (80-181)
3.    Walsh    43.7% (121-277)
4.    Western Oregon    43.7% (76-174)
5.    West Liberty    43.1% (113-262)
6.    Chico State    42.5% (108-254)
7.    Shepherd    42.4% (125-295)
8.    Colorado School of Mines    42.3% (77-182)
    Southeastern Oklahoma    42.3% (77-182)
10.    Colorado Mesa    42.3% (85-201)

NO. 3 IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
The Bearcats have made 53.6 percent of their field goal attempts in 2019-20, which ranks No. 3 in the nation.

NCAA Div. II Team Field Goal%
1.     Nova Southeastern    58.6%
2.     Bellarmine    56.3%
3.     Northwest Mo. St.    53.6%
4.    Pittsburgh-Johnstown    52.6%
5.    Walsh    52.1%
6.    UC San Diego    52.0%
7.    Southern Indiana    52.0%
8.    Lincoln Memorial    51.8%
9.    Belmont Abbey    51.5%
10.     Western Oregon    51.4%

BEARCATS TAKE CARE OF BASKETBALL
A staple of head coach Ben McCollum's coaching system is taking care of the basketball and limiting turnovers. Through 10 games in 2019-20, Northwest ranks No. 4 in the nation in turnovers per game (9.3).

NCAA Div. II Team Fewest Turnovers Per Game
1.    Shepherd    9.0
    Missouri-St. Louis    9.0
2.    Simon Fraser    9.1
4.    Northwest Mo. St.    9.3
5.    Winona State    9.4
6.     Michigan Tech    9.7
7.    Northern State    9.8
8.    Grand Valley State    9.9
9.    UC San Diego    10.1
10.    Glenville State    10.5

NO. 5 IN FREE THROW %
Northwest ranks No. 5 in the nation in free throw percentage through its first 10 games. Northwest has drained 151 of its 186 free throw attempts (81.2%).

NCAA Div. II Team Free Throw%
1.     Cedarville    84.7%
2.    Rogers State    83.7%
3.    Ohio Dominican    82.6%
4.    Fort Hays State    81.6%
5.    Northwest Mo. St.    81.2%
6.    Lincoln Memorial    81.2%
7.    Winona State    80.9%
8.    Bellarmine    80.8%
9.    Michigan Tech    80.8%
10.    Wilmington    80.7%

NO. 5 IN SCORING MARGIN
Northwest has been winning comfortably this season with seven of its nine wins coming by 20 or more points. Northwest ranks No. 5 in the nation scoring margin (+25.7).

NCAA Div. II Team Scoring Margin
1.    Nova Southeastern    +33.4
2.     Lincoln Memorial    +28.4
3.    Bellarmine    +27.7
4.    Walsh    +26.3
5.    Northwest Mo. St.    +25.7
6.    West Texas A&M    +25.1
7.    St. Edward's    +23.4
     West Alabama    +23.4
9.    West Liberty    +22.8
10.    Southern Indiana    +22.4

NO. 7 IN SCORING DEFENSE
The Bearcats have been in a lockdown defensive mode all season. As a result, Northwest ranks No. 7 in the nation in scoring defense by giving up only 62.2 points per game.
    Northwest has held five of its opponents to less than 60 points scored.

NCAA Div. II Team Scoring Defense
1.     West Alabama    53.5 ppg
2.    Missouri-St. Louis    58.6 ppg
3.    Bellarmine    59.6 ppg
4.    Miles    59.9 ppg
5.    Northeastern State    59.9 ppg
6.    McKendree    61.7 ppg
7.    Northwest Mo. St.    62.2 ppg
8.    Cal Poly Pomona    62.4 ppg
9.    Fayetteville State    62.6 ppg
10.    Pace    63.2 ppg

WELTY'S THREE-POINT PRECISION
Ryan Welty is the nation's active career leader in three-point field goal percentage among all NCAA Divisions. Welty has made 51.1 percent of his three-point shots (204-of-399).

NCAA II Active Career Leaders - 3-Point FG Pct.
1. Ryan Welty (Northwest Missouri St.)    .511
2. Mikkel Kolstad (Nova Southeastern)    .489
3. Mason Baker (Colorado School of Mines)    .471
4. Bryce Irsfeld (MSU Moorhead)        .467
5. Nick Smith (Nova Southeastern)        .463
6. Dan Largey (Stonehill)            .462
7. Parker Jennings (Missouri Southern)    .451
8. Troy Brady (South Dakota Mines)        .449
9. Chandler Jacobs (DBU)            .448
10. CJ Fleming (Bellarmine)            .448
Minimum 80 3-pt FGs made

NCAA All Active Career Leaders - 3-Point FG Pct.
1. Ryan Welty (Northwest Missouri St.)    .511
2. Alex Jacovides (Suffolk)            .511
3. Nick Penny (Carroll)                .498
4. Luke Avdalovic (Northern Arizona)        .495
5. Mikkel Kolstad (Nova Southeastern)    .489
6. Ethan Feldman (NYU)            .480
7. Mason Baker (Colorado School of Mines)    .471
8. Tyrell Gumbs-Frater (Coastal Carolina)    .469
9. Bryce Irsfeld (MSU Moorhead)        .467
10. Kyle Wagner (Simpson)            .465
Minimum 80 3-pt FGs made

WELTY CLIMBS NORTHWEST'S 3-POINT CHART
Ryan Welty has made 204 career 3-pointers to rank No. 5 on Northwest's all-time 3-pointers made chart. Welty needs one more make to move into a tie for fourth with Conner Crooker (2013-2016).

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.)        204
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

HAWKINS HITS FOR 40 AGAIN
Junior Ryan Hawkins scored a school-record 44 points in Northwest's 100-88 win over No. 9 Southern Nazarene (Nov. 2).
    Hawkins broke the previous mark of 43 set by Ed Maxwell vs. Southeast Missouri State in the 1963-64 season.
    Hawkins poured in 43 points in an 87-53 win at Lincoln (Dec. 5), becoming the first Bearcat player to record two 40-point scoring games.    

Northwest Single-Game Scoring Records
1. Ryan Hawkins, Southern Nazarene (11/2/19) - 44
2. Ed Maxwell, SE Missouri State (1963-64) - 43
    Ryan Hawkins, at Lincoln (12/5/19) - 43
4. David Alvey, William Jewell (Mo.) (12/1/75) - 42
5. Joey Witthus, Minnesota State (3/16/19) - 39
6. 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
9. Justin Pitts vs. UNK (1/19/17) - 37
10. 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

MULTIPLE 40-POINT GAMES IN 2019-20
Ryan Hawkins is one of four NCAA players with two 40-plus scoring games this season.
    Hawkins went for a school-record 44 points vs. Southern Nazarene (Nov. 2) and then posted 43 points at Lincoln (Dec. 5).
    Marquette's Markus Howard scored 40 vs. Davidson (Nov. 28) and then Howard put up 51 vs. Southern California (Nov. 29).
    Division III's Brian Cameron of Wesley tallied 42 points vs. SUNY Oneonta (Nov. 16) and then he scored 43 vs. Manhattanville (Nov. 22).
    Division III's Eric Demers of Gordon scored 49 vs. Nichols (Dec. 10) and then posted 42 vs. Plymouth State (Dec. 14).

44 OR MORE THIS SEASON
Ryan Hawkins is one of 13 NCAA players to score 44 or more points in a single game this season.
    Hawkins's 44-point outburst vs. Southern Nazarene (Nov. 2) is the third-highest total among NCAA Division II players this season. Minnesota-Crookston's Harrison Cleary scored 52 points vs. Wayne State (Dec. 14) and Livingstone's Roger Ray scored 45 points vs. Virginia State (Dec. 5) to out-score Hawkins.

Most Points Scored in a Game in 2019-20 - All NCAA Divisions
1. Mason Peatling, Eastern Washington vs. Multnomah (12/13/19) - 54 points
2. Harrison Cleary, Minnesota-Crookston vs. Wayne State (12/14/19) - 52 points
3. Christian Lutete, UMass-Lowell vs. LIU (11/8/19) - 51 points
    Markus Howard, Marquette vs. Southern California (11/29/19) - 51 points
    Jason Ellis, Marietta vs. John Carroll (12/7/19) - 51 points
6. Tharon Suggs, Lynchburg vs. Pfeiffer (11/16/19) - 50 points
7. Eric Demers, Gordon vs. Nichols (12/10/19) - 49 points
8. Matt Cappelletti, North Central vs. Greenville (11/15/19) - 47 points
9. Roger Ray, Livingstone vs. Virginia State (12/5/19) - 45 points
10. Ryan Hawkins, Northwest Mo. St. vs. Southern Nazarene (11/2/19) - 44 points
      Luka Garza, Iowa vs. Michigan (12/6/19) - 44 points
      Jase Miquez, Howard Payne vs. Southwestern (12/7/19) - 44 points
      Jacobe Thomas, Southern Maine vs. Thomas (12/12/19) - 44 points

Most Points Scored in a Game in 2019-20 - NCAA Division II
1. Harrison Cleary, Minnesota-Crookston vs. Wayne State (12/14/19) - 52 points
2. Roger Ray, Livingstone vs. Virginia State (12/5/19) - 45 points
3. Ryan Hawkins, Northwest Mo. St. vs. Southern Nazarene (11/2/19) - 44 points
4. Ryan Hawkins, Northwest Mo. St. at Lincoln (12/5/19) - 43 points
    Shadeed Shabazz, Alaska-Fairbanks vs. Concordia Portland (12/7/19) - 43 points
6. Thomas Lang, Shepherd vs. Bowie State (11/9/19) - 42 points
    Zahrion Blue, Lincoln vs. West Chester (11/9/19) - 42 points
    Ashton Spears, St. Edward's vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (11/23/19) - 42 points
    Pat Dembley, Texas Permian Basin vs. Western New Mexico (11/23/19) - 42 points
    Brett Hanson, Florida Southern vs. Lindenwood (12/7/19) - 42 points
    David Simental, Colorado State-Pueblo vs. Fort Lewis (12/7/19) - 42 points

DOUBLE-DOUBLE FEVER
Diego Bernard posted back-to-back double-double performances with 20 points, 10 rebounds vs. St. Mary and 21 points and 11 rebounds vs. William Jewell.
    Bernard has registered three double-doubles in his collegiate career.

CHARITY STRIPE ADVANTAGE
Northwest has made 151-of-186 free throws this season, while the opposition has only attempted 124 free throws.

THIEVERY
The Bearcats have posted 82 steals through the first 10 games. Northwest has allowed only 40 steals this season.

IRON MEN
Northwest has four players averaging 32.3 minutes or more per game through the first nine contests.

Player            Minutes Per Game
Trevor Hudgins    35.3
Ryan Welty        34.8
Ryan Hawkins    33.0
Diego Bernard    32.3

WIN STREAK SNAPPED AT 46
Northwest's all-time longest win streak was snapped at 46 games in a 72-60 loss at Central Missouri.
    The 46-game win streak is also the longest win streak in the MIAA.

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

DREAMER NAMED MIAA ATHLETE OF WEEK
Freshman Wes Dreamer has been named the MIAA's men's basketball athlete of the week.
    Dreamer went for a double-double with 29 points and 14 rebounds against Illinois-Springfield in Bearcat Arena (Nov. 27). Dreamer made 10-of-13 shots from the fied, including 7-of-10 from three-point range. Dreamer collected a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with three blocks.
    Dreamer is averaging 9.6 points per game and he is shooting 61.5 percent from the field (24-of-39). Dreamer is 11-of-22 from three-point range.

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.

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.

NOVEMBER BRINGS WINS
Northwest has won its last 29 straight games it has played in the month of November. The Bearcats went 7-0 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.

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.

109 WINS OVER LAST FOUR SEASONS
Northwest has been playing on a different level the last four seasons. The Bearcats have posted a record of 109-6 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.

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.

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).

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. 5 IN WIN PERCENTAGE
Northwest head coach Ben McCollum ranks No. 5 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 250-76 (.767 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 (411-76, 16 yrs.)
2. Josh Schertz (Lincoln Memorial)    .820 (296-65, 12 yrs.)
3. Scott Davenport (Bellarmine)    .777 (351-101, 14 yrs.)
4. Jeff Young (Walsh)    .768 (364-110, 17 yrs.)
5. Ben McCollum (Northwest Mo. St.)    .767 (250-76, 11 yrs.)
6. Burt Paddock (Davenport)    .765 (293-90, 12 yrs.)
7. Rodney Watson (Southern Indiana)    .758 (235-75, 11 yrs.)
8. Joe Lombardi (Indiana, Pa.)    .758 (313-100, 14 yrs.)
9. Ken Ammann (Concordia, Calif.)    .758 (472-151, 19 yrs.)
10. Mike Jones (Mississippi College)    .756 (335-108, 17 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.