MARYVILLE, Mo. - The No. 16-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team simply overwhelmed the visiting Nebraska-Kearney Lopers on Thursday in Bearcat Arena, 105-53.

Northwest tallied season-highs in points (105), three-pointers (18), field goal percentage (63.2%), three-point field goal percentage (60.0%) and assists (33) in the 52-point destruction of UNK. The 18 three-pointers are the most made by an MIAA men's basketball team this season.

Northwest tallied its 19th straight home win over an MIAA opponent, as the Bearcats moved to 8-0 in Bearcat Arena this season. Northwest improved to 16-4 overall and 12-2 in league play.

Five Bearcats reached double-figure scoring led by junior Mitch Mascari's 23-point performance. Mascari buried 6-of-7 from three-point land and sank all five of his free throw attempts. It is the second 20-point game of Mascari's collegiate career and two off a career-high of 25 points set against Morningside (Nov. 26, 2022). 

Senior Wes Dreamer went 8-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-4 from distance, as he put up 19 points to go along with a team-high tying six rebounds. 

Junior Daniel Abreu contributed with 11 points and five rebounds as he posted his ninth double-figure scoring contest this season.

Junior Luke Moustakas tied a career-high with 14 points in 13 minutes of action. Moustakas also tied a career-high with four three-point field goals made.

Junior Spencer Schomers set a career-high with 14 points in 21 minutes. Schomers torched the Lopers with four three-pointers and went 5-of-10 from the field. Schomers also tallied a career-high six rebounds in the win.

Junior Isaiah Jackson dished out a career-high 11 assists to with five points and five rebounds. It's the most assists by a Bearcat since Bennett Stirtz handed out 10 assists against Missouri Western (March 2, 2023).

Northwest made eight of its first nine three-point field goal attempts in the first half. Northwest eventually buried 10-of-12 three-pointers by halftime. Northwest shot a sizzling 74.1% from the floor in the first half by making 20-of-27 field goals. Northwest led 56-21 at the break.

The Bearcats kept the pedal down in the second half and built its largest lead of the contest at 57 with a 105-48 edge. The Bearcats reached 100 points for the 19th time in head coach Ben McCollum's coaching tenure.

Northwest will square off Saturday with Fort Hays State at 3:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena. Northwest holds a one-game lead over FHSU in the MIAA standings. FHSU recorded a 57-49 win over Northwest when the teams met earlier in Hays, Kan.

NOTES:

Northwest's 18 made three-pointers ties for the seventh-most in program history.
22 vs. Briar Cliff (Nov. 26, 2021)
20 vs. Manhattan Christian (Nov. 19, 2004)
20 vs. Central Missouri (Jan. 29, 2022)
19 vs. Northeastern State (Nov. 30, 2017)
19 vs. Northeastern State (Jan. 3, 2019)
19 vs. Emporia State (Jan. 9, 2021)
18 vs. Avila (Dec. 10, 1998)
18 vs. Northeastern State (Dec. 17, 2016)
18 vs. Nebraska-Kearney (Feb. 1, 2024)

It is the fifth time that a McCollum coached Bearcat team has scored 100 or more in an MIAA regular season game
111 vs. Pittsburg State (Jan. 31, 2019)
105 vs. Northeastern State (Jan. 3, 2019)
105 vs. Nebraska-Kearney (Feb. 1, 2024)
104 vs. Southwest Baptist (Jan. 16, 2014)
101 vs. Missouri Western (Dec. 18, 2021)