TOPEKA, Kansas – The No. 3-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat men's basketball team exacted a bit of revenge Saturday at Lee Arena by taking down the No. 15 Washburn Ichabods in overtime, 88-85.

Northwest (19-1 overall) won its 14th straight game overall and clinched an outright MIAA title with its 18th consecutive road victory.

Bearcat junior guard Trevor Hudgins tallied a game-high 28 points and dished out six assists. Junior Diego Bernard and sophomore Luke Waters each contributed with 17 points, while senior forward Ryan Hawkins tallied 16 points.

The Bearcats and Ichabods each played at a high level with both squads shooting 57 percent from the field. Northwest made 28-of-59 (57.1%), while Washburn drained 31-of-54 (57.4%).

Northwest led 39-38 at the break in a first half that featured six ties and five lead changes. Neither squad led by more than six points in the opening 20 minutes.

Bernard drilled a three-pointer at the shot clock buzzer to give Northwest a 60-59 lead. Washburn responded with a couple of shot clock buzzer beating shots of its own to take a 64-60 lead. Hawkins knocked in a pair of free throws with 1:23 to play to give the Bearcats a one point lead at 71-70. Washburn's Tyler Nelson sank of pair of free throws on the other end to give the home squad a one-point edge at 72-71. Hudgins drew a foul on the Bearcats's ensuing possession but could only make one of two at the line and left the score tied, 72-72, with 29.2 seconds left in regulation. Washburn's Connor Deffebaugh missed a floater in the lane off the glass at the buzzer and the game went to overtime.

The Bearcats would not trail in overtime but the Ichabods would tie it up on two separate occasions. Northwest's Wes Dreamer scored his only bucket of the game on a triple from the left corner with 2:48 to play that gave the Bearcats a 79-76 lead. Washburn's Jace Williams split a pair at the line and Hudgins sank two free throws to give Northwest an 81-77 lead. Washburn's Tyler Geiman drilled a three-pointer with 1:44 to play to trim the Northwest lead to one, 81-80. Bernard scored a bucket with 1:09 to give Northwest a three-point cushion. After a stop from the Bearcats, freshman Byron Alexander scored a layup on an assist from Bernard with :29.8 to push the Northwest lead to five at 85-80.

Geiman sank another three with :24.0 left to cut the lead to two at 85-83. Alexander was fouled and missed the first but made the second to put the Bearcats back up three at 86-83. Bernard was whistled for a foul with :09.1 and Washburn's Tyler Nelson made both free throws to pull the Ichabods within one. Hudgins was fouled on the inbounds pass and went to the line where he sank both free throws. Following a timeout, Washburn' s Levi Braun could not connect on a three-pointer from the left corner and Northwest scored the three-point victory, 88-85.

Northwest will wrap up the regular season at home in Bearcat Arena this Thursday and Saturday with matchups against Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State.

NOTES: Northwest clinched the No. 1 seed for the 2021 MIAA Tournament ... Northwest is 11-0 on the road this season ... Northwest head coach Ben McCollum is now 8-4 in overtime games ... Northwest is 88-2 over the past three seasons ... Northwest is 150-7 over the last five seasons ... Northwest has won 67 of its last 69 MIAA games.