EMPORIA, Kan. – Wes Dreamer and Bennett Stirtz combined to score 37 points and missed five total field goals in leading the No. 12-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team to a 64-61 road over the Emporia State University Hornets Wednesday at White Auditorium.
 
Northwest won its seventh straight game in a row and moved its season mark to 18-4 overall and 14-2 in MIAA play. ESU dropped to 14-10 overall and 7-9 in league action.
 
The Hornets used an early 7-0 run to take a 13-6 lead with 13:26 to play. The Bearcats answered with an 8-0 spurt of their own to go up 14-13 with 11:54 left in the half. The contest was tied at 17-17, 19-19 and 21-21 before Northwest closed the half on a 15-5 run. Northwest held a 36-26 advantage at the break.
 
The Bearcats would lead by as many as 14 in the second half at 59-45 with 8:15 to play. But the Bearcat offense would stagnate and it allowed the Hornets to slowly whittle the margin away. The Hornets used a 16-4 run to cut the lead all the way to two at 63-61 with 1:39 left.
 
Stirtz was fouled with 1:13 to play and made one of two free throws for what proved to be the final points of the contest. ESU had a pair of chances to tie on its final two possessions but both attempts did not fall and the Bearcats escaped with a three-point victory.
 
Northwest was held without a made field goal in the final 8:59. The Bearcats committed a season-high 21 turnovers. Northwest won the rebounding battle, 34-12.
 
Northwest made 8-of-13 three-pointers (61.5%) and 20-of-24 at the free throw line (83.3%).
 
Dreamer scored 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting and hit 3-of-4 from three-point range. Dreamer went 6-of-7 at the free throw line. He grabbed seven rebounds.
 
Stirtz tallied 14 points and did not miss a shot from the floor. He made all four shots, including 3-of-3 from distance. Stirtz went 3-of-4 at the free throw line.
 
Northwest will travel to Topeka, Kan., on Saturday to match up against the Washburn University Ichabods. Tip is set for 3 p.m. at Lee Arena.