MARYVILLE, Mo. - The No. 6-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team used a 20-0 first-half run to pave the way for a 79-58 home win over the Northeastern State University RiverHawks on New Year's Eve.

The Bearcats improved to 12-1 overall and 5-1 in MIAA play.

Senior Diego Bernard led all scorers with 21 points, while junior Wes Dreamer contributed with a 20-point afternoon as the Bearcats shot 52.1% from the floor. Bernard went 7-of-10 from the field and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Bernard also added five rebounds, two steals and an assist. Dreamer buried a team-best four three-pointers and secured a team-high seven rebounds.

Northeastern State bounced out to a 9-2 lead as Northwest missed its first four shots from the floor. NSU held a 14-8 lead following a three-pointer by Dillon Bailey with 12:21 left in the first half. Northwest then hit NSU with a game-changing 20-0 spurt. Dreamer knocked down a triple to give Northwest its first lead of the game at 17-14 with 9:54 to play. Dreamer then capped the 20-0 run with another triple at the 5:25 mark that pushed the Bearcat lead to 28-14. 

Northwest held a 39-23 lead at the break on the strength of a 16-4 free throws made advantage. Neither squad missed a free throw in the opening half as the RiverHawks made all four of theirs, while the Bearcats sank all 16 of its freebies.

The Bearcats went on to make 55.6% of its second-half field goals. Northwest held its largest lead of the afternoon at 70-43 with 5:53 to play in the game.

Northwest will return to action Monday to play host to Rogers State University. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game in Bearcat Arena.

NOTES: Northwest holds a 15-1 lead all-time against Northeastern State ... Northwest has won 14 straight matchups with NSU ... since NSU joined the MIAA it is 0-13 against Northwest ... Northwest is 6-0 at Bearcat Arena this season ... since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest has compiled a home record of 154-13, which includes a tally of 102-10 in MIAA play ... Northwest is 156-5 when holding the opposition to 59 points or less under the direction of head coach Ben McCollum ... the Bearcats have held seven opponents to 59 points or less this season ... freshman Bennett Stirtz tallied two steals and has recorded at least one steal in all 13 games this season ... Stirtz also added 10 points, six assists and five rebounds in the win ... Mitch Mascari tallied 10 points off the bench in 23 minutes of action ... Northwest went 21-of-22 at the free throw line ... Northwest won the rebounding battle, 27-20 ... Northwest is 143-9 over the past five seasons ... Northwest is 205-14 over the last seven seasons ... Bernard has recorded 16 career 20-point scoring games ... Dreamer has posted 10 career 20-point scoring contests ... Northwest has shot 50.0% or better in 10 of its 13 games in the 2022-23 season ... Northwest is 137-3 in games decided by 20 or more points ... Northwest has won 135 consecutive games when the final scoring margin is 20 or more points.