MARYVILLE, Mo. - A pair of 20-point scoring nights from Wes Dreamer and Diego Bernard propelled the Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team to a 73-52 win over the visiting Central Missouri Mules at Bearcat Arena.

Northwest won its 10th straight home game and moved to 9-0 at home this season. The Bearcats moved their overall record to 16-2 and 9-2 in MIAA play. UCM fell to 8-10 overall and 4-8 in league action.

The Bearcats used a 52-point scoring explosion in the second half to overcome a seven-point halftime deficit. UCM led by as many as nine in the first half at 18-9. It is the largest deficit Northwest has overcome this season in a victory.

Northwest shot only 25.9% in the first half by making 7-of-27 field goals. The Bearcats hit seven of their first eight field goal attempts in the first five minutes of the second half to take the lead and never look back in a 21-point triumph. The Bearcats shot 72.0% in the second half on 18-of-25 field goals. Northwest also capitalized at the free throw line by draining 16-of-17.

Dreamer dropped in his 11th career 20-point scoring game and third this season with a 21-point performance. Dreamer went 6-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-10 from three-point range. He also sank all five of his free throw attempts. He grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists.

Bernard captured his 18th career 20-point contest. It is his seventh 20-point game this season. Bernard shot 7-of-10 from the floor and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the charity stripe. Bernard chipped in with seven rebounds, two assists and a steal against the Mules.

UCM led 28-21 at the break only to see Northwest storm out to a 16-1 run to begin the second half and take a 37-29 lead with 16:58 to play in the game. Northwest out-scored UCM in the second half, 52-24.

Northwest will be back in action Saturday at home at 3 p.m. against the Lincoln Blue Tigers. Lincoln scored a 70-56 win at Missouri Western on Thursday night. The Blue Tigers are 11-4 overall and 7-4 in MIAA play.

NOTES: Head coach Ben McCollum secured his 350th career win to move his coaching mark to 350-85 in 14 seasons at the helm of the Bearcat program ... McCollum has captured 210 career MIAA victories, which trails former head coach Steve Tappmeyer's school record of 213 MIAA victories ... since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest has compiled a home mark of 157-13 - including a tally of 105-10 in MIAA games ... since Jan. 14, 2015, Northwest has a home record of 114-6 - including 79-4 in league home games ... Northwest has defeated UCM in 15 of the last 16 matchups, which includes nine straight home games in Bearcat Arena ... head coach Ben McCollum is 16-12 vs. UCM ... Northwest is 147-10 over the past five seasons ... Northwest has dropped only 15 games in the last seven seasons with a record of 209-15 ... under head coach Ben McCollum, the Bearcats are 140-3 in games decided by 20 or more points ... Northwest has won 139 consecutive games when the game's final scoring margin is 20 or more ... Ben McCollum has guided Northwest to a mark of 158-5 when opponents are held to 59 points or less ... Northwest has held nine opponents this season to 59 points or less ... freshman Bennett Stirtz has recorded at least one steal in all 18 games this season ... Northwest won the rebounding battle, 34-23 ... Northwest leads the country in fewest rebounds allowed per game (24.7) ... senior Diego Bernard has tallied 886 career rebounds and needs only 44 more to equal the school record of 930 set by Ryan Hawkins ... Bernard ranks No. 5 on Northwest's all-time free throws made chart with 420 made free throws ... junior Wes Dreamer ranks No. 7 on Northwest's all-time three-pointers made chart with 209 ...