MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Southwestern (Kan.) Moundbuilders overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to record an 80-76 win over the Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team Friday afternoon at Bearcat Arena.

The Moundbuilders are 9-3 on the season, but Friday's game was an exhibition on their schedule. Nothwest dropped to 3-8 overall heading into the holiday break.

The Bearcats have five players reach double-figure scoring - marking the first time this season Northwest had five or more performers score 10 or more points. Emorie Knox netted 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Marcus Glock knocked in all four of his three-point attempts and tallied 14 points. Trey Moala scored a career-high 13 points and snared nine rebounds. Jack Ratigan posted his first career double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Luke Moustakas was credited with 11 points as he knocked in a pair of three-pointers.

Southwestern came out strong and built a seven-point margin at 10-3 less than five minutes into the contest. Ja'Vion Byers came off the bench to ignite the Northwest offense and pulled the 'Cats to within 16-14 with 11:31 to play in the half. Southwest responded to the Northwest push and lengthened the lead back to eight at 25-17 and 28-20. Northwest took its first lead of the game at 33-32 on a bucket from Moala with 2:08 to play in the half. The lead changed hands four more times before Knox buried a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give the Bearcats a 38-36 lead at the break.

Northwest opened the second half on a 17-7 spurt to gain a 12-point lead at 55-43 with 14:22 left in the game. Byers hit a jumper in the paint with 11:46 remaining to push the lead back to double digits at 61-50. Southwestern answered back with a 12-4 run to slice the Northwest lead to 65-62 with 7:20 left in the game. Northwest led 69-64 at the final media timeout, but Southwestern used a 7-0 run to take a 71-69 lead with 54 seconds left. Knox drove the length of the floor to knot the game at 71-71 with 46.1 left in regulation. Moala blocked a shot by Southwestern's Zach Hidalgo and Ratigan brought in the rebound to give Northwest the final shot in regulation. Knox misfired on the potential game-winner and the contest moved to overtime.

Southwestern's Trey Abasolo buried a three-pointer to give the visitors the first points in the overtime period. Moala hit a hook shot and then split a pair of free throws on another possession to level the contest at 74-74. Hidalgo's tip-in dunk with 1:40 to play gave the Moundbuilders the lead they would not relinquish. Moustakas missed a top of the circle three-pointer in the final minute and Knox could not connect on a layup before Northwest fouled Hidalgo with 7.2 seconds left. Hidalgo made both ends of a 1-and-1 to give Southwestern a four-point lead at 78-74. Knox tallied a layup with 2.2 to play to cut the lead in half. Southwestern's Wyatt Bell knocked in both free throws with 1.2 seconds left to give him a game-high 27 points and put the finishing touches on a 78-74 victory.

Northwest will be back in action on Jan. 2 at home against Fort Hays State as the Bearcats return to MIAA play.