HAYS, Kansas - The No. 3-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team closed the game on a 15-2 run to post a 64-51 triumph over the Fort Hays State University Tigers at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Northwest junior Trevor Hudgins carried the offensive load with a game-high 29 points, marking the 42nd time in his career that he has surpassed 20 points in a game. Hudgins sank 10-of-17 shots from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point land. Hudgins added in eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.

It is the 11th straight road victory for the Bearcats, who moved to 7-1 on the season. Fort Hays State moves to 3-7 overall.

The Bearcats did not trail in the contest and built a 10-point cushion at the break, 31-21.
 
Northwest took a seemingly commanding 12-point lead at 48-36 with 8:27 to play in the contest. However, the home squad stormed back and even the matchup at 49-49 following a 13-1 run with 5:51 remaining.
 
The Bearcat defense then locked in and forced eight consecutive missed field goals by the Tigers. In fact, the Tigers did not make a field goal in the final 5:51 of the game.
 
Following the 49-49 tie, Northwest sophomore Wes Dreamer sank a free throw and senior Ryan Hawkins made a driving layup to push the lead to three. Freshman Byron Alexander got a feed from Hawkins and sank a bucket in the lane with 2:52 left to give Northwest a five-point advantage, 54-49.
 
Alexander came up big on the defensive end with a steal and then hit a streaking Hudgins for a fast-break layup with 2:02 to go to give the Bearcats a six-point cushion at 56-50. Hudgins would ice away the victory by hitting four free throws and another layup. His final free throws put the cap on a 15-2 run with 30 seconds left in the contest.

Northwest will travel to Kearney, Nebraska, to take on the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers. Tip is set for Saturday at 4 p.m., following the women's contest.

NOTES: Northwest recorded its 10th straight win over Fort Hays State ... Northwest holds a 17-10 lead in the all-time series ... Northwest improved to 76-2 over the last three seasons ... Northwest is 138-7 over the past five seasons ... since Feb. 22, 2018, Northwest has won 56 of its last 58 games against MIAA opponents (regular season/postseason) ... beginning Jan. 14, 2015, Northwest is 106-9 in its last 115 MIAA games ... Hawkins was the only other Bearcat to reach double-figure scoring with 14 points ... Hawkins and Dreamer each grabbed a team-high nine rebounds ... Alexander went 3-for-3 from the field and scored eight points ... Alexander has made eight consecutive field goal attempts over the past two games ... Alexander was credited with a career-high three steals.