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

Thursday, Dec. 31 | 1 p.m. | NSU Event Center | Tahlequah, Oklahoma
No. 1 Northwest Missouri State at Northeastern State
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Saturday, Jan. 2 | 3:30 p.m. | John Lance Arena | Pittsburg, Kansas
No. 1 Northwest Missouri State at Pittsburg State
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NORTHWEST RETURNS TO PLAY WITH MATCHUPS VS. NSU, PSU
The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team (3-0 overall) will return to action for the first time since Dec. 5 with two road games this week.
    Northwest will travel to Tahlequah, Oklahoma to take on the Northeastern State RiverHawks on New Year's Eve. Tip is set for 1 p.m. at the NSU Event Center.
    The Bearcats will continue their road trip to Pittsburg, Kansas, to battle the Pittsburg State Gorillas Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at John Lance Arena.

ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State began the season with a 90-89 win over Missouri Southern in Joplin.
    Since then, the RiverHawks have dropped five straight contests. NSU is 0-2 at home with losses to Missouri Western and Emporia State.
    NSU is under the direction of first-year head coach Ja Havens.

ALL-TIME VS. NSU
Northwest owns a 12-1 lead in the all-time series vs. Northeastern State. The Bearcats have won 11 straight matchups with the RiverHawks.
    Northwest is a perfect 4-0 all-time vs. NSU in games played in Tahlequah.
    NSU's only win against Northwest came 60-56 on March 8 in Joplin, Missouri, in the first round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament.

ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is off to a 3-4 start in MIAA play.
    The Gorillas have recorded victories over Central Oklahoma, Newman, Northeastern State and Missouri Western.

ALL-TIME VS. PITTSBURG STATE
Northwest holds a 68-63 lead in the all-time series vs. Pittsburg State. Northwest has won 10 consecutive matchups.
    The Bearcats have won four straight contests against the Gorillas in Pittsburg.
    Pittsburg State is the last team to defeat Northwest in the MIAA Tournament all the way back on March 7, 2015. The Gorillas knocked off the Bearcats, 65-58, in the MIAA semifinals. Since that loss, Northwest has won five consecutive MIAA Tournament titles.

CATCH THE ACTION
This week's game will be streamed on The MIAA Network and broadcast live on the Bearcat Radio Network.

SCHEDULE CHANGES
Thursday's game between Northwest and Northeastern State was originally slated for Nov. 19.
    Northwest has also rescheduled road games vs. Pittsburg State (Feb. 2), Missouri Western (Jan. 19) and Missouri Southern (Feb. 2).

TWO PERFECT MARKS IN MIAA
Only two teams remain undefeated in MIAA play with Washburn at 6-0 and Northwest at 3-0.    

MCCOLLUM RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR IN STYLE
Northwest head coach Ben McCollum has registered a 7-0 mark in games played on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in his tenure.

ROAD DOMINANCE
Northwest has gone 39-4 over the last four-plus seasons on the road in the MIAA.
    The Bearcats have won at least eight road games in each of the previous four seasons.
    Northwest has won its last eight away games for the league's best active unbeaten streak among road contests.

Active Div. II Road Win Streaks
Lincoln Memorial – 14
West Texas A&M – 10
Valdosta State – 9
Florida Southern – 9
Jefferson – 9
Azusa Pacific – 9
Northwest Mo. St. – 8
Point Loma – 8

26-GAME WIN STREAK FOR NORTHWEST
Northwest is in the midst of a 26-game win streak, which is the second-longest active win streak among NCAA Division II teams.
    Lincoln Memorial owns the nation's longest win streak at 37.
    Northwest's 26-game win streak ranks as the third-longest active streak in all divisions of college basketball.
    The Bearcats also own a 23-game win streak in the MIAA.

Active Div. II Overall Win Streaks
Lincoln Memorial – 37
Northwest Mo. St. – 26
West Texas A&M – 24
Florida Southern – 17
Truman State – 11
Saint Anselm – 11
Indiana (Pa.) – 10
West Liberty – 10
Colorado Mesa – 9
Northern State – 9

Active Overall Win Streaks
Lincoln Memorial (II) – 37
Yeshiva (III) – 29
Northwest Mo. St. (II) – 26
West Texas A&M (II)  – 24
UC San Diego (I) – 24

WINNING NUMBERS
Northwest has posted a spectacular mark of 72-1 over the past three seasons.
    Northwest went 38-0 in capturing the 2018-19 national title. The Bearcats posted a mark of 31-1 last season.

LIMITED LOSSES IN FIVE YEARS
Northwest has suffered only six losses in the last five seasons. The Bearcats have compiled a record of 134-6 over the last five years.

35-1 - 2016-17
27-4 - 2017-18
38-0 - 2018-19
31-1 - 2019-20
3-0 - 2020-21

LAST 108 MIAA GAMES
Beginning Jan. 14, 2015, Northwest is 102-8 in its last 110 MIAA games. Seven of those eight losses have come on the road.
    In that stretch, Northwest is 55-1 in Bearcat Arena in MIAA matchups with the only setback coming Feb. 17, 2018, against Missouri Southern.

PRETTY GOOD AGAINST MIAA FOES
Since Feb. 22, 2018, Northwest has won 52 of its last 53 games against MIAA opponents (regular season/postseason).

HAWKINS SECOND IN MIAA IN SCORING
Senior forward Ryan Hawkins ranks second the MIAA in scoring at 23.7 points per game. Missouri Southern's Cam Martin is the league leader at 24.7 ppg.

HAWKINS TABBED MIAA ATHLETE OF WEEK
Northwest Missouri State University senior forward Ryan Hawkins has been named the MIAA men's basketball athlete of the week.
    Hawkins (Atlantic, Iowa/Atlantic HS) averaged 29.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and shot 56.4% from the floor in leading No. 1-ranked Northwest to a pair of home victories over Central Missouri and Lincoln.
    Hawkins buried a team-best 10 three-pointers in the two contests, while shooting 50% from beyond the three-point arc. He scored a game-high 25 points against Central Missouri. Hawkins went 9-of-18 from the field against the Mules, including 4-of-10 from 3-point range. He also secured six rebounds and handed out two assists.
    Hawkins came back Saturday with his seventh career 30-point game by pouring in a game-high 34 points against the Blue Tigers. Hawkins was 13-of-21 from the field and he sank 6-of-10 from 3-point range. Hawkins tallied a game-high nine rebounds, while accruing two steals and two assists.
    It is the fourth time that Hawkins has earned the MIAA's athlete of the week award.

TREVOR IS DIALED IN FROM EVERYWHERE
Junior point guard Trevor Hudgins is accurate from anywhere on the floor this season. Hudgins is shooting 61.5% from the floor, including 60% from three-point range. He is also making 92% of his free throws.
    Hudgins leads the MIAA in three-point field goal percentage at 60%. Hudgins has drained 9-of-15 three-pointers this season. Hudgins was a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range in Saturday's 84-54 win over Lincoln.
    Hudgins ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in overall field goal percentage at 61.5% (16-of-26 FGs).
    He is 23-of-25 (92%) at the free throw line through the first three games.

20 & 30-POINT GAMES
Senior Ryan Hawkins went for 20-plus points in each of Northwest's games against Central Missouri (25 pts.) and Lincoln (34 pts.). Hawkins has 28 career 20-point games and seven career 30-point scoring contests.
    Junior Trevor Hudgins and sophomore Wes Dreamer each eclipsed the 20-point mark in Northwest's 86-78 win at Rogers State.

Career 20-Point Scoring Games
Trevor Hudgins - 39
Ryan Hawkins - 28
Diego Bernard - 8
Wes Dreamer - 2

Career 30-Point Scoring Games
Ryan Hawkins - 7
Trevor Hudgins - 5

'CATS, MCCOLLUM ROLLING IN BIG VICTORIES
Under head coach Ben McCollum the Bearcats are 107-2 in games decided by 20 points or more.
    Northwest has won 105 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.

MCCOLLUM RANKS NO. 3 IN WIN PERCENTAGE
Northwest head coach Ben McCollum ranks No. 3 among active NCAA Division II coaches in winning percentage with a minimum of 10 years as a head coach.
    McCollum also ranks No. 4 among all NCAA basketball head coaches (minimum of 10 years) in win percentage.
    McCollum has guided the Bearcats to a mark of 275-76 (.783 winning percentage) in his 12th season at the helm of the Northwest program.

NCAA Div. II Head Coach Win Percentage (Min. 10 yrs.)
1. Jim Crutchfield (Nova Southeastern)    .841 (428-81, 16 yrs.)
2. Josh Schertz (Lincoln Memorial)    .832 (323-65, 12 yrs.)
3. Ben McCollum (Northwest Mo. St.)    .783 (275-76, 12 yrs.)
4. Jeff Young (Walsh)    .768 (381-115, 17 yrs.)
5. Joe Lombardi (Indiana, Pa.)    .766 (333-102, 14 yrs.)
6. Charlie Ernst (Findlay)    .763 (210-65, 10 yrs.)
7. Ken Ammann (Concordia, Calif.)    .751 (485-161, 19 yrs.)
8. Mike Jones (Mississippi College)    .735 (338-122, 17 yrs.)
9. Lonnie Blow (Virginia State)    .729 (212-79, 10 yrs.)
10. Steve Hesser (Drury)    .718 (344-134, 16 yrs.)
Source: NCAA Statistics

NCAA All Divisions Head Coach Win Percentage (Min. 10 yrs.)
1. Jim Crutchfield (Nova Southeastern)    .841 (428-81, 16 yrs.)
2. Josh Schertz (Lincoln Memorial)    .832 (323-65, 12 yrs.)
3. Mark Few (Gonzaga)    .830 (607-124, 21 yrs.)
4. Ben McCollum (Northwest Mo. St.)    .783 (275-76, 12 yrs.)
5. Roy Williams (North Carolina)    .777 (890-256, 32 yrs.)
6. Bill Self (Kansas)    .769 (716-215, 27 yrs.)
7. John Calipari (Kentucky)    .769 (734-221, 28 yrs.)
8. Mike Krzyzewski (Duke)    .768 (1,160-352, 45 yrs.)
9. Jeff Young (Walsh)    .768 (381-115, 17 yrs.)
10. Joe Lombardi (Indiana, Pa.)    .766 (333-102, 14 yrs.)
Source: NCAA Statistics

HAWKINS MOVES UP REBOUNDING CHART
Senior Ryan Hawkins is one of five Bearcats to have ever tallied at least 700 career rebounds. Hawkins ranks No. 5 on Northwest's all-time rebounding list with 706 career caroms.

Northwest's Rebounds in a Career
1.     Don Sears (1966-1970)    874
2.     Russ Miller (1976-1980)    837
3.     Hunter Henry (2006-2009)    808
4.     Joe Hurst (1983-1986)    777
5.     Ryan Hawkins (2017-pres.)    706
6.     David Alvey (1973-1977)    677
7.     Chris-Ebou Ndow (2015-2018)    654
8.     Victor Coleman (1981-1984)    586
9.     Rick Jolley (1993-1996)    574
        Mark Adams (1976-1980)    574
        Bob Sundell (1986-1989)    574

HAWK CLIMBS BEARCAT STEALS LIST
Ryan Hawkins ranks T-No. 5 on Northwest's all-time steals list with 174 career steals.

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
    Ryan Hawkins (2017-pres.)        174
7.    Matt Wallace (2011-2015)        158
8.    Gerald Harris (1986-1988)        153
9.    Hunter Henry (2006-2009)        146
10.    DeShaun Cooper (2009-2014)        132

1,000 POINTS/500 REBOUNDS
Last season, Ryan Hawkins became the 13th Bearcat to post 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
    Hawkins ranks No. 9 on Northwest's all-time scoring list with 1,491 points.
    Hawkins ranks No. 5 on Northwest's all-time rebounding list with 706 career rebounds.

Northwest's 1,000 Pts & 500 Rbs
Victor Coleman (1980-84)    1,759 pts/586 rbs
David Alvey (1973-77)    1,747 pts/677 rbs
Hunter Henry (2006-09)    1,592 pts/808 rbs
Joe Hurst (1982-86)    1,580 pts/777 rbs
Ryan Hawkins (2017-pr.)    1,491 pts/706 rbs
Russ Miller (1976-80)    1,282 pts/837 rbs
Jeff Hutcheon (1985-89)    1,203 pts/519 rbs
Matt Redd (1996-99)    1,200 pts/571 rbs
Don Sears (1966-70)    1,154 pts/874 rbs
Dillon Starzl (2011-14)    1,153 pts/518 rbs
Chris Ebou Ndow (2015-18)    1,134 pts/654 rbs
Bob Sundell (1986-89)    1,082 pts/574 rbs
Rick Jolley (1993-96)    1,054 pts/574 rbs

Northwest Points in a Career
1.     Justin Pitts (2014-18)            2,459 pts
2.    Victor Coleman (1980-84)        1,795 pts
3.    David Alvey (1973-77)            1,747 pts
4.    Scott Fleming (1999-2003)        1,727 pts
5.     DeShaun Cooper (2009-14)        1,702 pts
6.    Kelvin Parker (2000-04)            1,692 pts
7.    Hunter Henry (2006-09)            1,592 pts
8.    Joe Hurst (1982-86)            1,580 pts.
9. Ryan Hawkins (2017-pres.)        1,491 pts
10.    Trevor Hudgins (2018-pres.)        1,402 pts
10.    Conner Crooker (2012-16)        1,352 pts
12.    Austin Meyer (2003-06)            1,294 pts
13.    Ellijah Allen (2008-11)            1,289 pts
14.    Zach Schneider (2013-17)        1,282 pts
    Russ Miller (1976-80)            1,282 pts

D.B. ZEROING IN ON 1,000 POINTS, 500 RBS
Junior Diego Bernard will look to become only the 25th Bearcat men's basketball player to reach 1,000 career points in the 2020-21 season.
    Bernard has tallied 916 points and 411 rebounds entering this week's contests. He would become the 14th Bearcat to reach 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.

TREV CLIMBS CAREER ASSIST CHART
Trevor Hudgins ranks No. 8 on Northwest's all-time assist chart with 408 career dimes.
    Hudgins dished out 191 assists last season, which as the second-best season in Bearcat history. Hudgins set the Northwest single-season assist mark with 203 in 2018-19.

Northwest Assists in a Career
1.     Justin Pitts (2014-18)        575
2.     Kelvin Parker (2001-04)        492
3.    DeShaun Cooper (2009-14)    489
4.    Victor Coleman (1981-84)    467
5.    Mark Yager (1979-82)        449
6.    Scott Fleming (2000-03)        435
7.    Matt Wallace (2011-15)        410
8.    Trevor Hudgins (2018-pr.)    408
9.    Gerald Harris (1986-88)        274
10.    Steve Simon (1992-95)        245

Northwest Assists in a Season
1.     Trevor Hudgins (2018-19)    203
2.    Trevor Hudgins (2019-20)    191
3.    Justin Pitts (2016-17)        183
4.    Kelvin Parker (2003-04)        174
5.    Justin Pitts (2015-16)        160
6.    Matt Wallace (2012-13)        151
7.    James Williams (1983-84)    144
8.    Mark Yager (1979-80)        143
9.    Justin Pitts (2017-18)        140
10.    Victor Coleman (1981-82)    136
    DeShaun Cooper (2010-11)    136

HUDGINS HITTING FROM DEEP
Junior Trevor Hudgins ranks No. 3 among all active players in three-point field goal percentage in all NCAA divisions by draining 186-of-369 three-pointers (50.0%).

NCAA D-II Active Career Leaders - 3-Point FG Pct.
1. Mason Stark (Northern State)        .547
2. Trevor Hudgins (Northwest Missouri St.)    .504
3. Will Yoakum (West Liberty)            .488
4. Tobin Karlberg (Alaska Anchorage)    .471
5. Jesus Castillo (Illinois-Springfield)        .465
Minimum 80 3-pt FGs made

NCAA All Active Career Leaders - 3-Point FG Pct.
1. Mason Stark (Northern State)        .547
2. Trevor Hudgins (Northwest Missouri St.)    .504
3. Will Yoakum (West Liberty)            .488
4. Braden Norris (Loyola Chicago)        .480
5. Alex Jacovides (Suffolk)            .474
Minimum 80 3-pt FGs made

HAWKINS, HUDGINS CLIMB 3-POINT CHART
Senior Ryan Hawkins ranks No. 6 on Northwest's all-time three-pointers made chart with 208.
    Junior Trevor Hudgins ranks No. 7 with 186 made three-pointers.

Northwest 3-Pointers Made in a Career
1.     Zach Schneider (2013-17)        370
2.    Justin Pitts (2014-18)        271
3.    Ryan Welty (2016-20)        238
4.    Austin Meyer (2003-06)        215
5.    Ryan Hawkins (2017-pres.)    208
6.    Conner Crooker (2013-16)        205
7.    Trevor Hudgins (2018-pres.)    186
8.    Scott Fleming (2000-03)        173
9.    Joey Witthus (2017-19)        172
10.    DeShaun Cooper (2009-14)    170

35-GAME HOME WIN STREAK
The Bearcats's 35-game home win streak ranks as the third-longest streak in the nation among all NCAA divisions.
    Northwest has won 84 of its last 86 games in Bearcat Arena dating all the way back to the 2014-15 season.
    Northwest set the MIAA record for consecutive home victories in 2018 at 48.
    Northwest's 35-game home win streak ranks No. 2 among NCAA Division II teams trailing only West Texas A&M's mark of 42.
    
Active Home Court Win Streaks (All Divisions)
West Texas A&M (II) – 42
Gonzaga (I) – 39
Northwest Missouri State (II) – 35
St. Edward's (II) – 29
Randolph-Macon (III)  – 27
Prairie View A&M (I) – 27
Liberty (I) – 25
South Dakota State (I) – 24
Florida State (I) – 24
Murray State (I) – 23
Oregon (I) – 22
Last loss - 3/10/18 vs. Minnesota State (L, 60-50)

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN BEARCAT ARENA
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest has compiled a home mark of 127-9, which includes a tally of 82-7 in MIAA play.
    Northwest has won 56 of its last 57 home MIAA contests - a stretch that began Jan. 14, 2015.

Year        Bearcat Arena Record (MIAA Games)
2011-12    12-1 (9-1)
2012-13    12-3 (6-3)
2013-14    12-1 (9-1)
2014-15    13-2 (8-1)
2015-16    13-0 (11-0)
2016-17    18-0 (10-0)
2017-18    12-2 (8-1)
2018-19    17-0 (9-0)
2019-20    16-0 (10-0)
2020-21    2-0 (2-0)

HALFTIME DEFICITS = WINS
Northwest trailed 39-38 to Rogers State at the half but recovered to score an 86-78 victory.
    The Bearcats have won nine straight games when trailing at the intermission. Northwest went 6-0 when trailing at the break in the 2019-20 season. The Bearcats also secured two victories in 2018-19 when behind the half.
It marked the ninth straight time that Northwest trailed at the half and went on to record a victory.
    The last time Northwest did not recover from a halftime deficit came March 10, 2018. Minnesota State held a 22-21 lead and went to defeat the Bearcats 60-50 in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA Division II Tournament.

HUDGINS HONORED AS MIAA'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Junior guard Trevor Hudgins was selected as the week's MIAA men's basketball athlete of the week.
    Hudgins (Manhattan, Kansas) scored a game-high 27 points in leading Northwest to a season-opening 86-78 road victory over Rogers State. Hudgins also grabbed five rebounds, handed out four assists, tallied three steals and did not turn the ball over in 38:23 minutes of action. Hudgins was 6-of-10 from the field and 13-of-15 at the free throw line. Hudgins sank 2-of-4 from three-point land in helping Northwest to its 24th consecutive victory.
    It is the fifth time Hudgins's career that has earned the MIAA's top weekly honor.

FOUR DEBUTS AT ROGERS STATE
A quartet of Bearcats saw their first collegiate action in Northwest's 86-78 road win at Rogers State.
    Redshirt freshman Mitch Mascari played 6 1/2 minutes and missed a field goal attempt.
    Freshman Byron Alexander played nearly 20 minutes and scored two points and grabbed a pair of rebounds.
    Freshman Daniel Abreu clocked 18-plus minutes and scored six points, including a three-pointer.
    Freshman Isaiah Jackson played the final minute and a half but did not record a statistic.

GOING FOR DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Four current Bearcats have recorded double-doubles in their careers. Senior Ryan Hawkins has collected 20 double-doubles, while junior Trevor Hudgins has posted eight.
    Junior Diego Bernard enters the year with five double-doubles and sophomore Wes Dreamer has one of his own.

Career Double-Doubles
Ryan Hawkins - 20
Trevor Hudgins - 8
Diego Bernard - 5
Wes Dreamer - 1

100-POINT MARK
Northwest has scored 100 or more points 14 times under head coach Ben McCollum.
    Northwest reached 100 or more points four times last 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)
101-66 vs. Simpson (1/1/20)

NO. 1 IN THE NATION
Northwest remains at No. 1 in the NABC's Division II Top 25 poll. Northwest has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in five consecutive seasons.
    Northwest has spent 37 weeks ranked No. 1 in the nation in the NABC poll. Northwest was first ranked No. 1 on Jan. 13, 2004.

Most weeks ranked No. 1
52, Kentucky Wesleyan
46, West Liberty
37, Northwest Missouri State
33, Virginia Union
26, Evansville
25, Cal State-Bakersfield
22, Bellarmine
22, Florida Southern
20, MSU Denver
18, Kentucky State

35 STRAIGHT WEEKS IN TOP 5
The Dec. 15, 2020, NABC preseason Division II Top 25 poll marks the 35th straight week that Northwest has been ranked in the top five.

39 WINS IN A ROW ON NEUTRAL COURTS
Northwest has won 39 straight games on neutral floors. It is the longest active win streak among all NCAA Div. I, II and III schools.
    Virginia holds the current Div. I mark with eight consecutive neutral floor victories.
    Washington University in St. Louis owns the active Div. III mark with 16 straight neutral floor wins.
    Northwest's last loss on a neutral floor came Nov. 13, 2015, vs. Upper Iowa (L, 76-72).

Current Neutral Court Win Streaks (All NCAA Divisions)
Northwest Missouri State (II) – 39
WashU (III) – 16
Claremont-M-S (III) – 10
Wittenberg (III) – 10
Gonzaga (I) – 7
Adelphi (II) – 7
Scranton (III) – 7
Trinity (III) – 7
Wisconsin-Oshkosh (III) – 7
Last loss - 11/13/15 vs. Upper Iowa (L, 76-72)

20TH NCAA APPEARANCE
Northwest earned its 20th NCAA Tournament bid in 2019-20 before the season was canceled as a result of COVID-19. It was the Bearcats's eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament under 12th-year head coach Ben McCollum.
    Northwest is 29-20 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with four appearances in the Elite Eight (2002, 2004, 2017, 2019).
    The Bearcats have claimed two national championships with titles in 2017 and 2019.

MIAA REIGN CONTINUES
In 2019-20, Northwest became the first school in MIAA history to win seven consecutive MIAA regular season titles. The Bearcats also became the first MIAA program to win five consecutive league tournament titles.

NINE STRAIGHT 20-WIN YEARS
Northwest eclipsed the 20-win mark for the ninth straight year.
    Northwest is one of five NCAA Division II schools to have won 20 or more games in nine straight seasons. Northwest (9), West Liberty (16), Bellarmine (11), Indiana Pa. (12) and Lincoln Memorial (11) extended their steak of 20-win seasons in 2019-2020.
    It marks the 26th 20-win season in program history and ninth under head coach Ben McCollum.

Northwest Coaching 20-Win Seasons
Steve Tappmeyer - 10
Ben McCollum - 9
Hank Iba - 3
Lionel Sinn - 3
Sparky Stalcup - 1

MIAA PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
Northwest was picked at the top of the 2020-21 preseason MIAA coaches' poll.

2020-21 MIAA Coaches Poll
1.     Northwest Missouri (13) - 169
2.     Missouri Southern (1) - 147
3.     Washburn - 140
4.    Rogers State - 123
5.    Missouri Western - 122
6.    Central Oklahoma - 106
T7.    Fort Hays State - 75
    Pittsburg State - 75
9.    Lincoln - 67
10.    Nebraska-Kearney - 64
11.    Central Missouri - 60
12.    Emporia State - 56
13.    Northeastern State - 55
14.     Newman - 17
A TOP 20 PROGRAM THAT INSPIRES
The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat men's basketball program has been recognized by College Athletic Advisor in its Top 20 Programs That Inspire.
    These holistic program rankings are open to all 4-year U.S. collegiate level programs sponsoring each sport outside of NCAA Division I (so this is a top 20 out of over 1,500 colleges & universities that could potentially sponsor a given sport). Rankings are based on a subjective assessment of student experience in four areas:
• Holistic development of student-athletes in the institution
• Academic achievement & support for the academic success of student-athletes
• Overall college experience for participants within the program
• Affordability/Graduation Rates/Student Satisfaction
    These rankings are meant to highlight programs that may not be widely publicized despite having achieved consistent elite status in competition and in elevating the lives of participating student-athletes. While this is a subjective list, we believe these rankings present an informed starting point for a discussion about where student-athletes can excel as "triple-threat" competitors (academics, athletics, and socially) in college and in their future lives.

BASKETBALL TIMES TABS NORTHWEST AT #1
The Basketball Times has pegged the Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team at No. 1 in its 2020-2021 preseason rankings.
    The Basketball Times also lists senior Ryan Hawkins and junior Trevor Hudgins as preseason All-America selections. Both players are contenders for National Player of the Year honors.

SCHNEIDER IS AN IMPACTFUL ASSISTANT
Silver Waves Media presented its 50 most impactful Division II men's basketball assistant coaches and the list contained Northwest Missouri State University's Zach Schneider.
    Silver Waves Media said: Schneider is a young and hard working individual that has made a positive impact on the program from the start. Despite only being an assistant for two seasons, Schneider has already helped lead the team to a perfect 38-0 record and become the NCAA Division II Tournament Champions. He is an unbelievable 69-1 (.986) in two seasons as an assistant coach after spending one season as a graduate assistant coach. Schneider also played four years under Ben McCollum. During his four year career, Schneider was part of four MIAA regular season championships, two MIAA Tournament championships, four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, and the 2017 NCAA Div. II national championship team.

NOVEMBER BRINGS WINS
Northwest has won its last 30 games it has played in the month of November.
    The Bearcats went 7-0 in November in 2019-20. The Bearcats went 7-0 in November in 2018-19. Northwest was 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.