CLAREMORE, Okla. – The No. 19-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team scorched the nets for a 78-57 victory over the Rogers State University Hillcats Saturday at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
Northwest ran its win streak to six in a row and kept itself in out-right first place in the MIAA standings. Northwest is 11-3 overall and 7-1 in league action. The Hillcats fell to 6-7 overall and 1-6 in MIAA action.
 
Northwest buried 76.2% of its first-half shots (16-of-21 FGs) in building a 44-29 lead at the intermission. Northwest made 10 of its final 11 field goal attempts in the first half. The Bearcats turned a 23-21 lead into a 41-23 advantage, its largest of the first half, courtesy of an 18-2 spurt. Northwest forced Rogers State into 13 first-half turnovers. 
 
Northwest had its largest lead of the game at 23 points late in the contest when the 'Cats took a 74-51 advantage with 2:30 to play.
 
The Bearcats shot better than 50% for the third straight game and for the sixth time this season. The Bearcats hit on 26-of-47 field goals for 55.3%.
 
Senior Wes Dreamer collected his 22nd career 20-point game as he posted a game-high 27 points and a team-best five rebounds.
 
Sophomore Bennett Stirtz chipped in with 16 points and a team-high five assists. Junior Byron Alexander added 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting with two steals and two assists.
 
Northwest will head to Missouri Western for its next matchup. The Bearcats and Griffons will battle at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo., with a tip set for 3:30 p.m.
 
NOTES: Northwest did not trail in Saturday's win over Rogers State … Northwest is 7-0 all-time against Rogers State … Northwest has won 23 of its last 24 games against MIAA opponents dating back to the 2022-23 season … Northwest has won 10 of its last 11 MIAA road games … Northwest is 235-19 over the past eight seasons … Northwest moved to 176-6 when holding its opposition to 60 points or less under the direction of head coach Ben McCollum … Northwest is 150-3 in games decided by 20 or more points under McCollum … Northwest has won 148 consecutive contests when the final margin is 20 or more points.