FAYETTE, Iowa – The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team could not overcome a pair of scoring spurts by Concordia-St. Paul at the Peacock Classic as the Golden Bears recorded a 73-58 non-conference victory.
 
Senior Emorie Knox netted a season-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor. Senior Luke Moustakas tacked on 15 points to help the scoring effort. Moustakas also made a three-pointer for the sixth straight game. The Bearcats shot 34.4% from the floor and made only 3-of-15 shots from three-point land in the setback.
 
Northwest limited CSP guard Antwan Kimmons, the nation's leading scorer, to a season-low 16 points – nearly 14 points below his season scoring average of 29.5 points per game. Kimmons had scoring efforts of 33, 17, 43, 25 and 30 coming into the matchup.
 
The Bearcats were able to produce the Golden Bears's lowest scoring output of the season. CSP is averaging 89.3 points per game and it was the first time this season it has been held below 82 points.
 
The Golden Bears moved to 5-1 on the season. The Bearcats slipped to 1-5 overall.
 
The Golden Bears bounced out to a 9-0 lead to begin Sunday's contest. The Bearcats battled back and cut the lead to 12-11 on a basket from Marcus Glock. CSP took a six-point at 19-13 only to see the Bearcats put together an 8-0 spurt to give Northwest its first lead of the game at 21-19 with 8:18 left in the half. Northwest pushed the lead to 32-26 after Knox nailed a pair of three-pointers. However, CSP would close the half as they opened the game with a 9-0 scoring spurt to take a 35-32 advantage.
 
Northwest could not find its shooting range as the Bearcats would make only one of its first 15 field goal attempts in the first 10:45 of the second half. While the Bearcats were struggling to put the ball in the hoop in a 1-for-20 slump on field goal attempts, the Golden Bears put together a 28-2 run. CSP eventually built a 54-34 lead with 10:16 to play in the game.
 
The Bearcats found a little rhythm for a 6-0 run that cut the CSP lead to 57-45 with 6:33 to play after three straight field goals from Moustakas, Jack Ratigan and Spencer Schomers. Northwest pulled to within 10 at 59-49 after a pair of free throws from Moustakas with 4:51 to play. Moustakas added another free throw with 4:11 left to cut the lead to single figures at 59-50. Northwest could not get closer than nine points the rest of the way as the Golden Bears scored a 73-58 victory.
 
Northwest will begin MIAA play Dec. 3 against Missouri Western. Northwest's home opener in Bearcat Arena will tip at 7:30 p.m. (following the women's game) against the Griffons.