TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The No. 19-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team captured its fifth straight win with a 78-65 road triumph over the Northeastern State University RiverHawks at the NSU Events Center.
 
The Bearcats maintained their outright lead in the MIAA standings by moving to 6-1 in league play. Northwest took its season mark to 10-3 overall. Northeastern State dropped to 0-6 in MIAA play and 5-7 overall.
 
Northwest shot 55.1% from the floor (27-of-49 FGs) and took advantage of making 19-of-22 the free throw line. NSU shot 53.3% from the field (24-of-45 FGs), but managed only 7-of-11 at the charity stripe. Northwest won the rebounding battle, 27-21. Northwest committed only eight turnovers, while forcing the RiverHawks into 15 miscues.
 
Northwest used a 16-4 spurt to take a commanding 18-7 lead merely seven minutes into the contest. Northeastern State closed to within four points at 26-22 with 8:35 to play. However, Northwest hit back with a 19-5 spurt to take a 43-27 lead with 1:19 left in the half.
 
Sophomore Bennett Stirtz erupted for an 18-point first half on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor as the Bearcats built a 16-point lead in the opening 20 minutes. Senior Wes Dreamer nearly collected a first-half double-double with 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
Northwest held a 45-32 lead at the break after shooting 60.7% from the floor (17-of-28 FGs).
 
NSU opened the second half with five quick points to lower the margin to eight at 45-37. Northwest came back firing and scored nine straight points to take its lead to 17 at 54-37 with 15:39 to play.
 
NSU closed to within seven points at 63-56 with 5:55 to play, but Northwest was able to keep the RiverHawks at bay as Byron Alexander tallied 10 of his 15 points in the second half.
 
Stirtz recorded a game-high 23 points with 18 coming in the opening half. Stirtz went 9-of-15 from the floor and dished out a team-best five assists. Dreamer dropped in 14 points and nine rebounds as he played the entire 40 minutes. Daniel Abreu reached double-figure scoring for the fourth straight game with 11 points.
 
Northwest will travel to Rogers State on Saturday to take on the Hillcats in Claremore, Okla. Tip is set for 3:30 p.m.
 
NOTES: Northwest has won 22 of its last 23 matchups with MIAA opponents … Northwest has won nine of its last 10 road MIAA contests … Northwest owns a 17-1 lead in the all-time series with Northeastern State … the Bearcats have defeated the RiverHawks 16 straight times after tonight's victory … NSU is 0-15 against Northwest since joining the MIAA.