Wednesday, Nov. 26 | 6 p.m. (CT) | Bearcat Arena | Maryville, Mo.
York vs. Northwest Missouri State
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NORTHWEST RETURNS HOME FOR MATCHUP WITH YORK
The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team (5-2 overall) will return to Bearcat Arena for a pre-Thanksgiving non-conference matchup with the York Panthers (2-7 overall).
    Northwest and York will play Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Maryville, Mo.

ALL-TIME VS. YORK
Northwest owns a 3-0 mark all-time against York. The programs last met in the 2012-13 season with Northwest scoring an 80-69 victory in Bearcat Arena.

Northwest vs. York Series
1946-47 - W, 52-38
12/7/02 - W, 80-65
12/1/12 - W, 80-69

JADIN JOHNSON RETURNS
York senior guard Jadin Johnson will return to Bearcat Arena where he suited up last season for the Bearcats.
    Johnson is averaging 17.1 points per game this season for the Panthers. He posted a season-high 34-point performance against Brian Cliff. He has generated three 20-point scoring efforts including 26 vs. Mount Marty and 20 vs. Saint Mary.
    Johnson scored 18 points in 12 games and made one start last season as a Bearcat. He scored a season-high nine points vs. Washburn (Jan. 11).

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN BEARCAT ARENA
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest has compiled a home mark of 177-24, including a tally of 120-19 in MIAA play.
    Since Jan. 14, 2015, Northwest has compiled a home record of 132-17. 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)
2025-26    1-0 (0-0)

DEFENDING 3-POINT ARC
Northwest ranks No. 4 in the MIAA in three-point field goal defense. The Bearcats are allowing teams to make 25.8% of their three-point attempts.
    Five of Northwest's seven opponents have shot 26.9% or less this season from beyond the arc.

ROYCE ROLLS UP NUMBERS
Senior guard Royce Williams leads the Bearcats in scoring (13.1 ppg), rebounds (5.0 rpg) and steals (13).
    Williams is 18-of-19 (94.7%) at the free throw line and has made 16 consecutive free throws entering Wednesday's game vs. York. Williams ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in free throw percentage and No. 38 in the nation.
    Williams ranks No. 24 in the nation in total steals (13).

GAIR ADDS SCORING FLAIR
Senior Aiden Gair ranks second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) and is tops on the squad with 27 assists and 17 made three-pointers.
    Gair has sank 112 three pointers in his NCAA collegiate career with 95 made triples at Millersville.
    Gair ranks No. 18 in the nation with 27 assists.
    He also ranks No. 13 in the country in three-pointers made (17).
    Gair ranks second in the MIAA in three-pointers made with 17, trailing Washburn's Jack Bachelor (18).

MAYES IS A BOOST OFF THE BENCH
Senior Matthew Mayes is third on the team in scoring (12.8 ppg).
    Mayes is shooting 54.7% from the floor having drained 29-of-53 shots.
    Mayes came off the bench in the first four games and has been in the starting lineup in each of the last two contests in Wisconsin.

SCORING NOTES
Senior Royce Williams recorded his third career 20-point game with a 21-point scoring effort against Northern State. Williams has 19 career double-figure scoring games to his credit.
    Senior Aiden Gair secured his 29th career double-figure scoring game with 12 points in a 73-65 win over Northern State.
    Senior Matthew Mayes had a 17-point effort against Northern State to give him 23 career 10-point scoring games as a collegian.
    Junior Trey Moala was the lone Bearcat in double-figure scoring vs. Northern Michigan with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor. Moala has registered eight career double-figure scoring games as a Bearcat.

Career Double-Figure Scoring Games
Aiden Gair - 29
Matthew Mayes - 23
Royce Williams - 19
Jack Ratigan - 11
Trey Moala - 8
Gob Gob - 2
Presley Ibeh - 1
Robert Garcia - 1

Career 20-Point Scoring Games
Aiden Gair - 5
Royce Williams - 3
Matthew Mayes - 1

Career 30-Point Scoring Games
Aiden Gair - 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

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.
    
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 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.