TOPEKA, Kan. - Junior guard Mitch Mascari drained a career-high 27 points on nine three-pointers to lift the Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team to its eighth straight victory in a 75-72 road win over the Washburn University Ichabods at Lee Arena.

Northwest also snapped Washburn's 11-game home-court winning streak in moving to 19-4 overall and 15-2 in MIAA play. Washburn drops to 15-8 overall and 11-6 in league action.

Head coach Ben McCollum thought it came down to a couple of factors.

"From a grit and toughness standpoint that was one of the best wins we've had," McCollum said. "It came down to a grit and toughness battle."

The Bearcats picked up their ninth straight win at Lee Arena without its top scorer and rebounder in senior Wes Dreamer. Dreamer missed the contest with a wrist injury.

Mascari knocked in 9-of-12 three-pointers, which accounted for his career-high 27 points. Mascari's previous career-high was 25 points against Morningside on Nov. 26, 2022. Mascari's longest shot of the game came on a half-court buzzer beater at halftime that banked in off the glass and left the Washburn lead at one at the break at 39-38.

Northwest shot 55.8% from the field, including 14-of-24 (58.3%) from three-point range. Northwest came into the game ranked No. 1 in the nation in free throw percentage but only converted 13-of-20 at the line (65.0%).

Northwest and Washburn combined for 15 lead changes and six ties. Northwest's largest lead of the game came at eight points in the first half. Washburn led by as many as five points in the first half. 

Northwest will return home to take on Rogers State (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.) and Northeastern State (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.) in the friendly confines of Bearcat Arena.