BOX SCORE (PDF)

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team overcame a six-point first-half deficit and remained perfect on the season with a 75-57 road triumph over the Lincoln Blue Tigers on Saturday in Jason Gymnasium.
 
Senior Joey Witthus and fedshirt freshman Trevor Hudgins paved the way. Witthus tallied a game-high 30 points, while Hudgins chipped in with 24. Hudgins scored 16 of his in the opening half.
 
Lincoln led 22-16 with 9:29 remaining in the opening half. Northwest would close the half on a 20-6 run to hold a 36-28 advantage at the break.
 
Northwest extended its run into the second half and built a 48-30 lead with 17:02 to go in the game.
 
The Bearcats committed only one turnover in the game – a shot clock violation with 1:50 left in the game.
 
The Bearcats drained 22-of-26 at the free throw line, while the Blue Tigers made 5-of-8 at the free throw stripe. Northwest out-rebounded Lincoln, 34-31.
 
Northwest (23-0 overall, 13-0 MIAA) secured its 12^th straight road victory and 23^rd straight MIAA win. Lincoln suffered its sixth loss this year and only its fourth setback in MIAA play.
 
Northwest will be back in action in Bearcat Arena on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. against Central Missouri.
 
NOTES: Hudgins made six more free throws to extend his consecutive free throws made streak to 31 in a row … Kelvin Parker holds the Northwest record for consecutive free throws made with 35 … Central Missouri's Reggie Soward holds the MIAA record with 36 consecutive made free throws from Dec 12, 2004-Jan. 29, 2005.