ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team bounced back with an 83-80 road win over the Central Washington University Wildcats Monday night at Nicholson Arena.
 
Ja'Vion Byers recorded a career-high 17 points, all in the second half, and Emorie Knox tallied a team-high 21 points to ignite the Northwest offense to a season-high 83 points. 
 
Northwest improved to 3-7 on the season and dropped CWU to 7-4 overall.
 
The Bearcats held a 15-point lead at 78-63 with 1:29 left in the game, before the Wildcats put up a frantic comeback that cut the lead to two points at 82-80. However, Jack Ratigan hit his first free throw to put the 'Cats up three at 83-80 with :03.3 left. CWU corralled Ratigan's missed free throw but a half-court shot at the buzzer by CWU's Cavin Holden came up short and the Bearcats claimed the three-point victory.

NOTES: Northwest's 53-point second half is the most it has put up in a half this season ... Northwest shot a season-best 56.4% from the floor (31-of-55) ... the Bearcats drained 18-of-24 field goals in the second half (75.0%) ... CWU was held to 43.8% field goal shooting (28-of-64) for the game ... Northwest dished out a season-high 15 assists ... Knox went 4-of-5 at the free throw line and is shooting 26-of-28 (92.9%) on the season from the charity stripe ... Knox is averaging a team-best 14.7 points per game ... Northwest holds a 3-0 lead in the all-time series with Central Washington with wins in 2024, 2003 and 1915.