EMPORIA, Kan. – No. 22-ranked Emporia State University snapped No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State's 21-game winning streak at White Auditorium as the Hornets topped the Bearcats, 74-65.
 
The Hornets moved to 9-1 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA. The Bearcats fell to 10-1 overall and 4-1 in league action.
 
Bearcat freshman Bennett Stirtz netted a career-high 24 points and eight rebounds. Stirtz went 8-of-12 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. Stirtz notched two assists and two steals.
 
The Bearcats went 5-for-5 to start the game including 3-of-3 from three-point land in taking a 13-6. After the Hornets took a 5-2 lead, Northwest popped ESU with an 11-2 run. ESU responded with a 7-0 spurt to even the game at 13-13.
 
The Bearcats took a 27-21 lead on a layup with Isaiah Jackson with 6:07 left in the half. ESU would hold Northwest scoreless for the next five and half minutes that would leave the Hornets on top 31-27 with under a minute to play before halftime. Northwest pulled to within two on a driving layup by Bennett Stirtz with :30 left. After Jackson forced a jump ball on the in-bounds pass, the Bearcats had the final shot of the half. Luke Waters took advantage and drove the left-hand side of the line for a bucket with :04 left to even the game at the break, 31-31.
 
Stirtz tallied 13 first-half points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor. Stirtz drained 3-of-4 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The Bearcats made their first four shots of the second half and took a 42-40 lead on a three-pointer in the right corner by Waters with 13:08 remaining. ESU hit Northwest with a 9-0 spurt to take a 49-42 lead with 9:03 to play in the game and forced a Bearcat timeout. Northwest could only get as close as six points the rest of the way as Emporia State scored its third straight win over Northwest.
 
Emporia State out-rebounded Northwest, 34-25, marking the first time this season that the Bearcats have been beaten on the boards.

ESU guard Owen Long scored a game-high 29 points. Long buried 6-of-8 three-point shots against the Bearcat defense.
 
The Hornets enjoyed an advantage at the free throw line on the night. ESU went 20-of-27 at the line, while Northwest went 4-of-12 at the charity stripe.
 
Northwest played without senior guard Diego Bernard who sat out with an injury.
 
Northwest will be off until Dec. 28 when it plays host to Clarke College at Bearcat Arena.