PITTSBURG, Kan. – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team used scoring from eight different Bearcats in recording a 73-62 road win over the Pittsburg State University Gorillas at John Lance Arena.
 
Northwest won its 18th straight game overall and improved to 8-0 overall this season. Northwest is 2-0 in the MIAA.
 
Freshman Bennett Stirtz equaled his career high with 18 points as he played the entire 40 minutes. Stirtz filled up his stat line with five assists, four rebounds, three steals and a block.
 
Stirtz was joined in double-figure scoring by Diego Bernard with 14 points and Daniel Abreu with 10 points.
 
For the seventh time in eight games, Northwest shot better than 50.0% from the field. Northwest went 23-of-42 from the floor. Northwest out-rebounded Pittsburg State, 30-19. Northwest has out-rebounded all eight of its opponents this season.
 
Pittsburg State led by as many as seven points in the first half as both teams were sizzling from the field. PSU made 15-of-24 field goal attempts and shot 62.5% in the first half. Northwest hit on 68.2% (15-of-22) of its first-half shots. PSU built a 34-27 lead with 5:03 to play in the half. Northwest used a 12-1 spurt to take a 39-35 lead with :48 left in the half. The Bearcats held a 40-37 cushion at the break.
 
Northwest locked in defensively in the second half and limited Pittsburg State to 45.0% shooting in the second half (9-of-20). Northwest took a nine-point lead at 57-48 with 11:39 left in the game. Northwest took the game's first 10-point lead at 68-58 on a free throw from Bernard with 1:54 to play.
 
Northwest will be back in action at home next Saturday and Sunday against Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State.