JOPLIN, Mo. – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team opened MIAA play with a 72-45 road win over the Missouri Southern Lions at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
Northwest stayed perfect on the season at 7-0 and extended the nation's longest active winning streak to 18 in a row. Northwest secured its 10th straight win over Missouri Southern in the series between the two programs.
 
Bearcat senior guard Diego Bernard tied a career high with 25 points. Bernard buried 11-of-17 shots from the floor, handed out four assists, grabbed three rebounds, recorded a steal and swatted a shot in 30 minutes of action.
 
The Bearcats shot better than 50% for the sixth time in seven games. Northwest hit on 52.8% of its shots (28-of-53) Thursday against the Lions.
 
Northwest closed the first half on a 7-1 run and held MSSU to one made field goal in the final four minutes of the opening stanza. The Bearcats held a 30-19 edge at the break as Bernard led the way with 10 points. The 19 points allowed by the 'Cats were the second-fewest they have given up this season only bested by a 15-point effort against Minnesota Crookston.
 
Northwest hit MSSU with a 6-0 spurt to start the second half. That start to the half extended its run to 13-1 and left the 'Cats holding a 36-21 advantage with 18:36 to play. Northwest registered an 11-0 run to take a 49-27 lead with 12:03 to play in the contest. The Bearcats would lead by as many as 31 points in the second half.
 
Northwest returns to action Saturday on the road against the Pittsburg State Gorillas. Tip is set for 3:30 p.m. at Lance Arena in Pittsburg, Kan.