Friday, Nov. 14 | 4 p.m. (CT) | MWSU Fieldhouse | St. Joseph, Mo.
St. Cloud State vs. Northwest Missouri State
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Saturday, Nov. 15 | 4 p.m. (CT) | MWSU Fieldhouse | St. Joseph, Mo.
Augustana vs. Northwest Missouri State
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Monday, Nov. 17 | 6 p.m. (CT) | Bearcat Arena | Maryville, Mo.
UMSL vs. Northwest Missouri State
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BEARCAT MBB RETURNS TO ST JOE FOR HILLYARD CLASSIC
The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team (1-1) will return to St. Joseph, Mo., for the 2025 Hillyard Classic held at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
    Northwest will square off against St. Cloud State (Fri., 4 p.m.) and Augustana (Sat., 4 p.m.) on the MWSU campus.
    Northwest will play its first home game of the 2025-26 season Monday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. against Missouri Valley.

ALL-TIME VS. ST CLOUD STATE
Northwest and St. Cloud State have met only once in men's basketball all the way backin the 1958-59 season. The Huskies scored a 68-55 triumph over the Bearcats.

Northwest vs. St. Cloud State Series
1958-59 - L, 68-55

ALL-TIME VS. AUGUSTANA
Northwest owns a 6-5 lead in the all-time series with Augustana. The Vikings picked up a 72-50 win last season in St. Joseph.

Northwest vs. Augustana Series
11/8/24 - L, 72-50 (St. Joseph, Mo.)
3/15/22 - W, 70-56 (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
3/12/17 - W, 74-53 (Maryville, Mo.)
11/17/16 - W, 82-71 (Maryville, Mo.)
3/15/16 - L, 80-78 (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
11/19/15 - L, 79-77 (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
3/15/15 - W, 66-65 (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
12/6/87 - L, 95-77 (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
12/3/86 - W, 63-54 (Maryville, Mo.)
12/6/85 - L, 82-56 (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
12/8/84 - W, 79-71 (Maryville, Mo.)

ALL-TIME VS. MISSOURI VALLEY
Northwest is a perfect 5-0 all-time vs. Missouri Valley. The series began in the 1922-23 season and they last met in the 2017-18 season.

Northwest vs. Missouri Valley Series
11/25/17 - W, 83-48
12/13/16 - W, 103-58
1941-41 - W, 27-25
1939-40    W, 31-11
1922-23    W, 37-14

FOUR RETURNERS
The Bearcat roster features four players returning from last year's squad that went 6-22.
    Juniors Jack Ratigan and Trey Moala are the only two returnees who saw action last season.
    Larenz Walters and Presley Ibeh were on the squad last season but redshirted and did not see any action.

SCORING NOTES
Senior guard Royce Williams reached double figures in scoring against both Minnesota State (11) and UMSL (17). Williams has scored in 10 or more points in 11 consecutive games dating back to his final season at Southern New Hampshire.
    Senior Aiden Gare put up a 19-point scoring output in the 82-79 win over UMSL. It is the 26th time in Gare's NCAA career that he has reached double figures in scoring.
    Senior Matthew Mayes notched a 12-point effort vs. UMSL for his 19th career 10-plus point scoring contest.
    Redshirt freshman Presley Ibeh scored 14 points in his collegiate debut against Minnesota State.

Career Double-Figure Scoring Games
Aiden Gare - 26
Matthew Mayes - 19
Royce Williams - 16
Jack Ratigan - 10
Trey Moala - 6
Gob Gob - 2
Presley Ibeh - 1

Career 20-Point Scoring Games
Aiden Gare - 4
Royce Williams - 2
Matthew Mayes - 1

Career 30-Point Scoring Games
Aiden Gare - 1

ACTIVE DOUBLE-DOUBLES LIST
Junior Jack Ratigan owns Northwest's only active career double-doubles entering the season.

Career Double-Doubles
Jack Ratigan - 2

ROYCE ROLLS IN SCORING
Senior guard Royce Williams is Northwest's leading scorer through two games at 14.0 points per game.
    Williams tops the team in steals (6) and is second on the squad in rebounds (11).
    Williams was credited with a career-high five steals in the 82-79 win vs. UMSL.

GARE STUFFING STAT SHEET
Senior Aiden Gare leads the squad in assists (9) and three-pointers made (4).
    Gare had four assists and made two three-pointers against Minnesota State. Gare added 19 points and five assists with two more three pointers made in an 82-79 win over UMSL.
    Gare has sank 99 three pointers in his NCAA collegiate career with 95 made triples at Millersville.

TRANSFER PORTAL
Northwest added six NCAA Div. I or Div. II transfers for this year's roster.
    Gob Gob is a Div. I transfer from UMKC. Gob played 19 games and scored 57 points for the Roos. Gob tallied a 16-point output vs. Oral Roberts (Feb. 1, 2025).
    Aiden Gair is a Div. II transfer from Millersville in Pennsylvania. Gair started 30 games and averaged 14.4 points for the Marauders. Gair buried 95 three-pointers to rank No. 17 in the nation.
    Matthew Mayes is a Div. II transfer from Henderson State. Mayes played in 28 games and made 21 starts for the Reddies. Mayes averaged 11.3 points per game. He dished out 77 assists and tallied 70 steals. Mayes ranked No. 17 in the nation in steals in 2024-25.
    Royce Williams is a Div. II transfer from Southern New Hampshire. Williams played three seasons for SNHU and saw action in 69 games with 15 starts. He averaged 9.3 points per game in 2024-25. He shot 46.6% from the floor and grabbed 83 rebounds. Williams played in the 2025 NCAA Tournament for SNHU.
    Osa Obasohan is a Div. I transfer from Hawaii. Obasohan played in 10 games for the Rainbow Warriors and scored six points. He played in a French under-21 league in 2023-24.
    Jack Webb is a Div. I transfer from Central Michigan. Webb last played for the Chippewas in the 2021-22 season. He played in 29 games and scored 13 points for the Chippewas in the Mid-American Conference.

35-9 VS. RANKED OPPONENTS SINCE 2015-16
Northwest is 35-9 vs. rank opponents since the 2015-16 season. Northwest went 0-3 last season against foes ranked in the NABC Top 25.

Bearcats vs. NABC Ranked Foes (Since 2016)
L, 80-69 vs. No. 1 Washburn (1/22/25)
L, 96-66 at No. 2 Washburn (1/11/25)
L, 68-56 vs. No. 18 Southwest Minnesota State (11/23/24)
L, 43-42 at No. 2 Minnesota State (3/19/24)
W, 71-62 vs. No. 10 Minnesota-Duluth (3/17/24)
W, 64-61 (2OT) vs. No. 24 Fort Hays State (2/3/24)
W, 63-59 vs. No. 15 Emporia State (12/16/23)
W, 65-47 vs. No. 21 Northern State (11/10/23)
L, 61-57 vs. No. 15 Southern Nazarene (3/12/23)
W, 61-53 vs. No. 12 Central Oklahoma (3/5/23)
W, 65-51 vs. No. 7 Central Oklahoma (2/23/23)
L, 69-58 at No. 7 Central Oklahoma (1/12/23)
L, 74-65  at No. 22 Emporia State (12/17/22)
W, 78-62 vs. No. 5 West Texas A&M (11/5/22)
W, 67-58 vs. No. 5 Augusta (3/26/22)
W, 70-57 vs. No. 22 Black Hills State (3/24/22)
W, 61-43 vs. No. 14 Bentley (3/22/22)
W, 70-56 at No. 5 Augustana (3/15/22)
W, 53-50 vs. No. 21 Fort Hays State (3/5/22)
W, 57-49 vs. No. 18 Fort Hays State (2/2722)
L, 76-75 (OT) at No. 18 Central Oklahoma (1/20/22)
W, 64-59 vs. No. 21 Seattle Pacific (11/7/21)
W, 68-55 vs. No. 15 Northern State (11/6/21)
W, 80-54 vs. No. 5 West Texas A&M (3/27/21)
W, 77-46 vs. No. 8 Flagler (3/25/21)
W, 98-77 vs. No. 18 West Liberty (3/24/21)
W, 91-86 (OT) at No. 2 Northern State (3/16/21)
W, 85-44 vs. No. 17 Washburn (3/14/21)
W, 88-85 (OT) at No. 15 Washburn (2/20/21)
W, 78-76 vs. No. 22 Missouri Southern (3/8/20)
W, 77-76 vs. No. 17 Missouri Southern (2/20/20)
W, 96-75 at No. 14 Missouri Southern (2/13/20)
W, 100-88 vs. No. 9 Southern Nazarene (11/2/19)
W, 85-65 vs. No. 22 Daemen (11/1/19)
W, 64-58 vs. No. 6 Point Loma (3/30/19)
W, 76-53 vs. No. 20 Saint Anselm (3/28/19)
W, 70-59 vs. No. 13 Southern Nazarene (3/17/19)
W, 100-86 vs. No. 13 Ferris State (11/4/19)
W, 70-56 vs. No. 15 Lincoln Memorial (12/19/17)
W, 71-61 vs. No. 3 Fairmont State (3/25/17)
W, 79-67 vs. No. 15 Lincoln Memorial (3/23/17)
W, 55-52 vs. No. 18 Southwest Minnesota State (3/14/17)
W, 82-71 vs. No. 18 Augustana (11/17/16)
L, 80-78 at No. 1 Augustana (3/15/16)

NORTHWEST IN BIG DANCE
Northwest is 43-22 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with six appearances in the Elite Eight (2002, 2004, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022).
    Northwest's 43 NCAA Tournament wins rank No. 4 in NCAA Div. II history.
    The Bearcats have claimed four national championships with titles in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
    Northwest is the only NCAA Division II school to win three consecutive national crowns.

Div. II All-Time Tourn. Wins
89, Kentucky Wesleyan
49, Florida Southern
46, Virginia Union
43, Northwest Mo. St.
42, MSU Denver
41, CSU Bakersfield
40, Evansville
39, Assumption
38, West Liberty
37, Central Mo.
37, Indiana, Pa.
37, Southern Ind.

Div. II All-Time Tourn. Games
122, Kentucky Wesleyan
83, Florida Southern
75, Virginia Union
73, Jefferson
70, Assumption
67, Southern Indiana
65, Northwest Mo. St.
61, CSU Bakersfield
59, Central Missouri
59, MSU Denver
59, South Dakota St.
59, Seattle Pacific

24 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES
The Bearcats gained their 24th all-time NCAA Div. II Tournament appearance by winning the 2024 MIAA Tournament in Kansas City.

Most NCAA Appearances
39, Kentucky Wesleyan
38, Jefferson
34, Florida Southern
30, Virginia Union
29, Southern Indiana
29, Seattle Pacific
28, Assumption
27, Gannon
25, St. Anselm
24, South Dakota State
24, Northwest Missouri State
24, Bridgeport

11 STRAIGHT NCAA BIDS
Northwest received a bid to 11 straight NCAA Div. II men's basketball tournaments from 2014 through 2024. Northwest's 11 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament ranks tied for the sixth-longest streak among Div. II men's teams.

Consecutive NCAA Bids (All-Time)
16, West Liberty (2010-pres.)
15, Assumption (1963-77)
13, Virginia Union (1984-96)
12, Bellarmine (2009-2020)
12, Seattle Pacific (2005-16)
11, CSU Bakersfield (1988-98)
11, Kentucky Wesleyan (1982-92)
11, Jefferson (1963-73)
11, Northwest Mo. St. (2014-24)
10, St. Thomas Aquinas (2016-pres.)
10, MSU Denver (1998-07)
10, Evansville (1957-66)

NORTHWEST MADE ITS 19TH TRIP TO MIAA TOURNAMENT TITLE GAME
Northwest's 19th title game appearance in at the 2024 MIAA Tournament increased its league record for the most by any school. Central Missouri ranks second with 15 title game appearances.
    Northwest has won 12 MIAA Tournament championships.

Northwest in MIAA Title Games
1984 - UCM 70, Northwest 65
1989 - Northwest 82, UCM 77
1998 - MWSU 65, Northwest 52
1999 - Truman St. 70, Northwest 68
2000 - MSSU 90, Northwest 79
2001 - WU 81, Northwest 74
2002 - Northwest 71, MWSU 58
2004 - Northwest 78, WU 71
2008 - Northwest 57, ESU 51
2013 - UCM 79, Northwest 76 (OT)
2016 - Northwest 61, UNK 53
2017 - Northwest 69, UCM 61
2018 - Northwest 80, WU 74
2019 - Northwest 82, WU 53
2020 - Northwest 78, MSSU 76
2021 - WU 69, Northwest 68
2022 - Northwest 84, WU 76
2023 - Northwest 61, UCO 53
2024 - Northwest 78, PSU 65

NORTHWEST HAS WON MOST MIAA TOURNEYS
Northwest captured the program's 12th MIAA Tournament title in the 2024 MIAA Tournament. Northwest leads the league with 12 all-time MIAA Tournament championships.

MIAA Tournament Titles
Northwest Missouri State - 12
Central Missouri - 6
Washburn - 6
Missouri Western - 4
Southeast Missouri State - 4
Missouri Southern - 3
Southwest Baptist - 2
Truman State - 2
Fort Hays State - 2
Pittsburg State - 1
Missouri S&T - 1
Missouri St. Louis - 1
Omaha - 1

'CATS CAPTURE 24TH MIAA REGULAR SEASON TITLE
Northwest clinched the program's 24th MIAA regular season crown in 2023-24.
    Northwest has won 17 outright MIAA titles and has shared the league crown on seven occasions.

MIAA Regular Season Titles
Northwest - 24
Central Missouri - 21
Missouri State - 19
Southeast Missouri State - 13
Washburn - 11
Truman State - 9
Missouri Western - 5
Southwest Baptist - 4
Lincoln - 4
Missouri Southern - 2
Missouri S&T - 2
Fort Hays State - 1
Pittsburg State - 1

Northwest's Outright MIAA Titles
1925-26 - H.F. Lawrence
1928-29 - H.F. Lawrence
1929-30 - Henry Iba
1931-32 - Henry Iba
1932-33 - Henry Iba
1939-40 - Wilber Stalcup
1945-46 - Ryland Milner
1986-87 - Lionel Sinn
2014-15 - Ben McCollum
2015-16 - Ben McCollum
2016-17 - Ben McCollum
2017-18 - Ben McCollum
2018-19 - Ben McCollum
2019-20 - Ben McCollum
2020-21 - Ben McCollum
2022-23 - Ben McCollum
2023-24 - Ben McCollum

Northwest's Shared MIAA Titles
1926-27 - H.F. Lawrence
1997-98 - Steve Tappmeyer
2001-02 - Steve Tappmeyer
2006-07 - Steve Tappmeyer
2011-12 - Ben McCollum
2013-14 - Ben McCollum
2021-22 - Ben McCollum

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN BEARCAT ARENA
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest has compiled a home mark of 176-24, including a tally of 120-19 in MIAA play.
    Since Jan. 14, 2015, Northwest has compiled a home record of 131-17. In that same stretch, Northwest is 96-13 in home MIAA contests.

Year        Record (MIAA Games)
2011-12    12-1 (9-1)
2012-13    12-3 (6-3)
2013-14    12-1 (9-1)
2014-15    13-2 (8-1)
2015-16    13-0 (11-0)
2016-17    18-0 (10-0)
2017-18    12-2 (8-1)
2018-19    17-0 (9-0)
2019-20    16-0 (10-0)
2020-21    12-2 (10-1)
2021-22    12-2 (9-2)
2022-23    15-1 (11-0)
2023-24    12-0 (11-0)
2024-25    0-10 (0-9)

NORTHWEST IS NATIONAL NAME
Northwest is 43-22 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with six appearances in the Elite Eight (2002, 2004, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022).
    Northwest is the first NCAA Division II school to capture three straight national titles.
    The Bearcats have claimed four national championships with titles in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
    
NCAA Div. II National Titles
8, Kentucky Wesleyan
5, Evansville
4, Northwest Missouri State
3, Virginia Union
2, Central Missouri
2, MSU Denver
2, North Alabama
2, Winona State

BEARCATS IN THE NABC POLL
Northwest has been ranked in the NABC Top 25 poll 243 times in the history of its program, which ranks as the fifth-most of any NCAA Div. II team in history trailing Kentucky Wesleyan (358), Southern Indiana (277), Florida Southern (262) and West Liberty (252).
    Northwest holds the mark for the most times (53) ranked No. 1 in Div. II history.

Consecutive weeks ranked in NABC Top 25
149, West Liberty (2/2/2010-12/10/2019)
120, Northwest Missouri State (1/26/2016-12/5/2023)
95, Lincoln Memorial (12/7/2010-12/13/2016)
91, Bellarmine (11/18/2014-2/11/2020)
83, West Texas A&M (11/15/2017-12/13/2022)
76, Salem (1/21/1997-3/11/2003)
76, Grambling (1/5/1961-3/9/1967)
71, Kentucky Wesleyan (11/24/1997-12/16/2003)
68, Lincoln Memorial (12/19/2019-12/19/2023)
66, Cal State-Bakersfield (1/27/1992-12/7/1998)
66, Nova Southeastern (11/16/21-pres.) ACTIVE

Consecutive weeks in NABC Top 10
104, West Liberty (12/13/2011-2/27/2018)
92, Northwest Missouri State (3/8/2016-2/22/2022)
76, Grambling (1/5/1961-3/9/1967)
70, Kentucky Wesleyan (11/24/1997-3/11/2003)
66, Nova Southeastern (12/14/2021-pres.) ACTIVE
47, Kentucky Wesleyan (12/29/1966-2/5/1970)
45, West Texas A&M (2/5/2019-1/25/2022)
43, Evansville (1/10/1963-3/3/1966)
40, Wittenberg (3/9/1961-2/4/1965)
39, Ashland (12/12/1968-3/11/1971)

Consecutive weeks in NABC Top 5
60, Northwest Missouri State (3/6/2018-2/15/2022)
40, Grambling (3/2/1961-1/28/1965)
37, Nova Southeastern (1/4/2021-1/9/2024)
36, West Liberty (1/10/2012-2/11/2014)
35, Evansville (1/24/1963-1/20/1966)
32, Kentucky Wesleyan (12/29/1966-1/23/1969)
26, Bentley (12/12/2006-3/11/2008)
26, Southern Illinois (2/18/1965-3/9/1967)
25, Northwest Missouri State (11/15/2016-1/16/2018)
25, Nova Southeastern (11/15/2016-pres.) ACTIVE
24, Ashland (12/12/1968-2/19/1970)
24, Jefferson (2/24/1992-1/22/1995)
24, Indiana (Pa.) (1/18/2022-3/7/2023

Consecutive weeks in NABC #1 Ranked Team
19, Evansville (1/30/1964-3/4/1965)
15, Findlay (11/25/2008-3/10/2009)
15, Northwest Missouri State (1/28/2020-3/2/2021)
14, Winona State (11/28/2006-3/6/2007)
14, Bentley (11/28/2007-3/11/2008)
11, Indiana (Pa.) (1/1/1995-12/18/1995)
10, Northwest Missouri State (12/6/2016-2/14/2017)
10, Bellarmine (11/13/2018-1/29/2019)
10, Northwest Missouri State (1/29/2019-12/3/2019)
10, Lubbock Christian (11/23/2021-2/1/2022)
10, Nova Southeastern (Feb. 27, 2024-Jan. 7, 2025)

Most weeks ranked 
358, Kentucky Wesleyan
277, Southern Indiana
262, Florida Southern
252, West Liberty
243, Northwest Missouri State
219, Virginia Union
218, Indiana (Pa.)
203, Lincoln Memorial
179, Bellarmine
179, Findlay
179, MSU Denver

Most weeks ranked in top 10 
258, Kentucky Wesleyan
193, West Liberty
153, Southern Indiana
153, Northwest Missouri State
150, Virginia Union
135, Bellarmine
131, Indiana (Pa.)
127, Florida Southern
126, Lincoln Memorial
107, MSU Denver

Most weeks ranked in top 5 
161, Kentucky Wesleyan
133, Northwest Missouri State
133, West Liberty
100, Bellarmine
98, Virginia Union
81, Indiana (Pa.)
79, Nova Southeastern
76, Florida Southern
75, Southern Indiana
72, MSU Denver

Most weeks ranked No. 1
53, Northwest Missouri State
52, Kentucky Wesleyan
49, West Liberty
35, Nova Southeastern
33, Virginia Union
27, Bellarmine
26, Evansville
25, Cal State-Bakersfield
22, Florida Southern
20, MSU Denver

MIAA PRESEASON POLLS
The Bearcats have been projected to finish 11th by the media and 14th by the coaches in the MIAA's preseason basketball polls.

2025-26 MIAA Coaches Poll
1. Washburn [13] – 169 points
2. Rogers State [1] – 141 points
3. Central Oklahoma – 137 points
4. Fort Hays State – 134 points
5. Pittsburg State – 127 points
6. Nebraska Kearney – 106 points
7. Central Missouri – 102 points
8. Missouri Western – 79 points
9. Northeastern State – 62 points
10. Emporia State – 59 points
11. Newman – 52 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 41 points
13. Missouri Southern – 35 points
14. Northwest Missouri State – 30 points
Coaches Are Not Allowed To Vote For Their Own Team

2025-26 MIAA Media Poll
1. Washburn [23] – 346 points
2. Fort Hays State [1] – 297 points
3. Rogers State [1] – 286 points
4. Pittsburg State – 280 points
5. Central Oklahoma – 229 points
6. Nebraska Kearney – 211 points
7. Central Missouri – 186 points
8. Missouri Western – 169 points
9. Emporia State – 159 points
10. Northeastern State – 132 points
11. Northwest Missouri State – 108 points
12. Newman – 93 points
13. Missouri Southern – 69 points
14. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 59 points

PRESS CONFERENCE TUESDAY AT PIZZA RANCH
Northwest head coach Matt Keeley will be available each Tuesday from Noon - 1 p.m. for a press conference at Pizza Ranch in Maryville.