MARYVILLE, Mo. - The No. 15-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team produced a 77-67 victory over the visiting Pittsburg State University Gorillas Saturday at Bearcat Arena.

Northwest moved to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play. Pittsburg State dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in league action. Northwest won its 16th straight game overall against Pittsburg State. Northwest has also won 15 consecutive games over PSU in Bearcat Arena.

The Bearcats bounced out to a 9-0 lead to start the game and enjoyed a 10-point lead at 25-15 with 6:58 left in the first half. PSU closed to within three at the break with the Bearcats holding a 32-29 advantage. 

The Gorillas finally drew even at 42-42 with 12:42 to play in the game. PSU took its first lead of the game at 48-45 when Deshaun English II knocked in a three-pointer. The Gorillas pushed the lead to four at 51-47 when R.J. Forney hit a triple with 11:06 left in the game. The Forney three-pointer capped a 15-4 PSU run.

Northwest answered back with a 10-3 spurt. Spencer Schomers started the run with a triple and Bennett Stirtz finished off the run with a conventional three-point play and a layup. Stirtz's layup gave Northwest a 57-54 lead with 8:31 to play.

After PSU knotted the game at 60-60, Northwest seized control with a decisive 10-0 run. Byron Alexander began the run with a pair of free throws and a bucket. Dreamer followed with a basket to put Northwest up six. PSU's Braydon Redd picked up his fifth foul and was whistled for a technical foul on his way to the Gorilla bench. Stirtz knocked in both technical free throws and Dreamer buried both of his free throws to give Northwest a 70-60 lead with 3:54 to play.

Northwest scored its final 11 points at the free throw line to close out the 77-67 victory. Northwest hit on 28-of-34 free throw attempts in the game.

Stirtz led the Bearcats in scoring with a 23-point performance. Stirtz hit on 7-of-15 field goals and was perfect at the line in eight attempts. Stirtz added five assists, three steals and three rebounds to stuff his stat sheet.

Alexander chipped in with 14 points and Dreamer tallied 12 points with half of those coming at the charity stripe.

Northwest will hit the road this upcoming week with matchups at Fort Hays State (Thursday) and Nebraska-Kearney (Saturday).

NOTES: Northwest is 74-63 all-time vs. Pittsburg State ... Ben McCollum is 22-5 vs. the Gorillas ... Northwest was out-rebounded for the first time this season, 28-27 ... Northwest committed nine turnovers, while PSU was marked with 16 turnovers ... Stirtz accounted for his fifth career 20-point scoring game ... Dreamer and Stirtz have scored in double figures in all seven contests this season ... Northwest is 86-4 in its last 90 home MIAA games ... since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest is 166-14 at home, which includes a mark of 111-10 in league action ... over the past eight seasons, Northwest has produced an overall record of 229-18.