MARYVILLE, Mo. - The No. 11-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team ran its win streak to 10 in a row with a 73-56 victory over the Northeastern State University RiverHawks in Bearcat Arena.

Northwest moved to 21-4 overall and 17-2 in MIAA play. The Bearcats captured their 11th straight home victory. Northwest has won 26 of its last 27 home games. The Bearcats have won 22 straight home contests against MIAA opponents.

Northwest had six players reach double-figure scoring for the first time this season. Junior guard Isaiah Jackson took home team-high scoring honors for the first time this season with a 13-point output against the RiverHawks. Jackson also added five assists to make his way into the Bearcat top-10 list for career helpers. Jackson has accumulated 252 career assists and ranks No. 10 in program history. Jackson surpassed Alan Bubalo (1973-76), who had 251 assists.

Juniors Byron Alexander and Daniel Abreu each posted 12 points. Junior Mitch Mascari, sophomore Bennett Stirtz and redshirt freshman Trey Moala each tallied 11 points.

The Bearcats shot 52.1% from the floor (25-of-48) and knocked in 16-of-19 at the free throw line (84.2%). The Bearcats buried seven three-pointers with Mascari sinking three and Abreu making two to lead the way.

Northwest began the contest by draining seven of its first 10 shots from the floor and built a 17-6 lead. Mascari capped a 9-0 run with his first triple of the game with 12:25 left that gave the 'Cats an 11-point lead. The Riverhawks countered with a 13-2 spurt to draw even at 19-19 with 6:55 left in the half. After two more at 22-22 and 24-24, Northwest took the lead back to four after buckets from Moala and Stirtz. Jackson scored the last basket of the first half to give the Bearcats a three-point cushion at the intermission, 30-27.

The RiverHawks kept the margin in single digits until Alexander sank two free throws with 8:22 to play to put the Bearcats on top, 55-44. NSU cut it back to nine only to see Jackson swish a three from the left corner to take the lead to 12 at 58-46 with 7:31 left. The lead would not fall below 12 the rest of the way. Northwest opened up its largest lead of the contest at 68-48 with 3:03 remaining. 

Northwest will wrap up its home regular season schedule next Saturday at home against the Missouri Western Griffons. Tip is set for 3:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena. 

NOTES: Northwest did not trail in the game ... the Bearcats have won 17 straight matchups with the RiverHawks ... Northwest played its third straight game without the services of Wes Dreamer (wrist injury) ... Northwest's 10-game winning streak ranks as the third-longest active winning streak among NCAA Div. II teams ... Northwest's 11-game home-court winning streak is the eighth-longest active streak in Div. II ... Northwest has won 33 of its last 35 games with MIAA opponents ... only two opponents have scored 70 or more points against the Bearcats in their last 19 games ... Northwest is 183-6 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points under the direction of head coach Ben McCollum ... Northwest has shot 50.0% for better in 12 games this season ... Northwest honored a trio of members before the game in Senior Day festivities ... Mitch Mascari, Wes Dreamer and manager Sam Hawley were honored at mid-court prior to the game ... Northwest has produced 12 winning streaks of 10 games or more under the direction of head coach Ben McCollum ... Northwest has won 17 or more MIAA games eight times in program history ... only 14 teams (Northwest with 8) have won 17 or more MIAA games in a season.

MIAA Record for League Wins
21, Northwest Mo. St. (2020-21)
20, Northwest Mo. St. (2022-23)
19, Missouri Southern (2010-11)
19, Northwest Mo. St. (2015-16)
19, Northwest Mo. St. (2018-19)
18, Central Missouri (2009-10)
18, Northwest Mo. St. (2016-17)
18, Northwest Mo. St. (2019-20)
18, Northwest Mo. St. (2021-22)
18, Central Oklahoma (2021-22)
18, Central Oklahoma (2022-23)
17, Southwest Baptist (2008-09)
17, Fort Hays State (2021-22)
17, Northwest Mo. St. (2023-24)