BOX SCORE (PDF)

KEARNEY, Nebraska - The No. 3-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team scored its 12th consecutive road victory with a 73-63 triumph over the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers.

Northwest's 12-game road win streak is the longest active streak among NCAA Division II teams.

Senior Ryan Hawkins paced the Bearcat offense with 25 points and sophomore Luke Waters tallied a career-high 20 points in the win.

Hawkins dropped in 10-of-19 field goals and grabbed five rebounds as he secured his 30th career 20-point scoring game.

It is the first time in Waters's career he reached the 20-point mark. Waters sank 8-of-12 field goals and was 3-of-3 at the free throw line.

Northwest shot 27-of-48 from the field (56.3%), marking the sixth time this season the Bearcats have shot 50% or better. 

Northwest did not trail in the contest. The Bearcats opened up a 10-2 lead less than four minutes into the contest. UNK closed to within 21-18 with 7:56 to go in the half. The Bearcats responded with a 12-2 spurt to take a 33-20 advantage with 3:13 remaining in the opening 20 minutes. Northwest would take a 37-26 lead into intermission.

The Bearcats increased its margin to 16 points at 44-28 only three minutes into the second half. The Bearcats took a 63-50 lead with 6:23 to go only to see the Lopers chip away. UNK went on an 11-2 to trim the Northwest lead to 65-61 with 3:00 remaining.

Junior Trevor Hudgins would not let the Lopers get any closer. Hudgins sank all six free throw attempts he was awarded in the final 2:35 to put away the home squad. Hudgins finished with 12 points, three rebounds and five assists. 

Northwest will return home to take on Central Oklahoma Thursday at Bearcat Arena.

NOTES: Freshman Byron Alexander made his first career start in place of an injured Diego Bernard ... Alexander registered four points, five rebounds and three assists ... sophomore Wes Dreamer notched nine points, eight rebounds and five assists ... Trevor Hudgins streak of making at least one three-pointer in a game was snapped at 32 ... Hudgins went 0-for-3 from three-point range ... Northwest made a season-low four three-pointers ... Northwest holds a 9-1 lead in the all-time series vs. Nebraska-Kearney ... Northwest's road streak of 12 straight wins is the longest active streak in the MIAA ... Northwest has gone 43-4 over the last four-plus seasons on the road in the MIAA ... Northwest has posted a spectacular mark of 77-2 over the past three seasons ... the Bearcats have compiled a record of 139-7 over the last five years ... beginning Jan. 14, 2015, Northwest is 107-9 in its last 116 MIAA games ... since Feb. 22, 2018, Northwest has won 57 of its last 59 games against MIAA opponents (regular season/postseason).