WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University senior Luke Moustakas knocked in a game-winning three-pointer with :04.9 left to give the Bearcats a 63-62 road win over the Central Missouri Mules.
 
Moustakas made his only three-pointer of the game after head coach Matt Keeley had called timeout with :14.9 left in the contest. Moustakas was 1-of-6 from three-point land  and scored seven total points.
 
The Bearcats (4-10 overall, 2-3 MIAA) shot 50.0% from the field and held the Mules (7-7 overall, 2-3 MIAA) to 38.9% shooting.
 
Northwest closed the first half on an 11-0 scoring spurt to take a 38-29 lead to the break. Northwest shot 57.7% from the field in the first half on 15-of-26 shooting. All eight Bearcats that saw action in the opening half were able to put points on the board. Byron Alexander led the way with nine first-half points on 3-of-3 shooting from the floor.
 
UCM built a 23-18 lead with 7:53 left before halftime. Northwest answered with a 20-6 spurt to take a nine-point bulge to the intermission. The Bearcats held the Mules to only one made field goal in the final seven minutes of the first half.
 
Northwest had a nine-point lead to open the second half at 40-31 with 19:17 to play in the game. UCM was able to tie the game at 50-50 with 8:23 remaining in the contest. UCM would push its lead to five at 57-52 and 59-54. However, Northwest knotted the matchup again at 59-59 on a conventional three-point play by Ja'Vion Byers with 2:27 left in the game.
 
UCM's Corey Skillman Jr. sank a three-pointer in the corner with 2:40 left for the final points of the game for the Mules. Jack Ratigan made one of two free throws with 2:16 to play to trim the margin to two at 62-60. Northwest committed a shot clock violation with 1:05 to go, but the Bearcats came up with two stops of the Mules and got the ball back for its final possession.
 
Northwest will travel to Topeka, Kan., Saturday for a 3 p.m. matchup with the No. 2-ranked Washburn Ichabods.
 
NOTES: Trey Moala made his first career start in his 40th game as a Bearcat … Jack Ratigan made his first career three-pointer as the shot clock wound down in the final minute of the first half … Byron Alexander was the lone Bearcat to reach double-figure scoring with 11 points … Ratigan collected a team-best nine rebounds, scored eight points and dished out six assists ... Northwest has won eight in a row and 17of the last 18 matchups with Central Missouri ...  Northwest has recorded a win in four straight trips to Warrensburg.