ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team locked in defensively in its season-opening 65-47 win over the No. 21-ranked Northern State University Wolves at the Hillyard Classic.
 
The Bearcat defense blitzed the Wolves in the final nine minutes of the first half to turn a two-point deficit into a 16-point lead. NSU made only two field goal in the final nine minutes of the first half as the Bearcat defense simply took over.
 
Northwest used an 18-0 scoring spurt from the 6:46 mark until :03 remained in the half. NSU held an 18-16 lead with 6:46 remaining in the half. Despite only making one three-pointer on 10 attempts in the opening half, Northwest was able to attack the basket and take advantage at the free throw line. Northwest drained 11-of-13 first-half free throws, while the Wolves were 2-of-4 at the stripe.
 
A Wes Dreamer put-back gave Northwest a nine-point lead at 27-18 with 2:23 to play in the half. Jack Ratigan followed with a tip-in dunk to fire up the Northwest faithful that made the journey to the MWSU Fieldhouse. Daniel Abreu sank Northwest's only triple of the first half to put the margin to 32-18. Byron Alexander finished off a fastbreak with a layup to close out a 4-for-4 shooting half that gave Northwest a 34-18 bulge. NSU's Jackson Moni hit a turn-around jumper with :03 left in the half to end the Bearcat scoring run. Northwest led 34-20 at the break.
 
The Bearcats started the second half slowly by making only one of its first 12 shots, but relied on their defense to stifle the Wolves. Northwest led by as many as 22 points in the second half.
 
Northwest shot only 44.2% from the floor, including 2-of-17 (11.8%) from three-point range. But the Bearcat defense forced the Wolves to shoot 34.0% (16-of-47) from the floor. NSU made 6-of-23 three-pointers (26.1%). Northwest won the rebounding battle, 35-31.  
 
The Bearcats had four double digit scorers and were led by Wes Dreamer with 15 points on 5-9 shooting. Byron Alexander and Bennett Stirtz added 11 a piece while Jack Ratigan tallied 12 more off the bench in his Bearcat debut.
 
Northwest held Northern State to 47 points – marking the 45th time since head coach Ben McCollum took over that the opposition was held to 50 points or less. Northwest is 43-2 in games which the opponent scores 50 or less.
 
Northwest won its eighth consecutive season-opening for head coach Ben McCollum. Northwest captured its 18th straight win on a neutral court. It was also Northwest's 27th straight win in the city of St. Joseph.