LIBERTY, Mo. — The William Jewell Cardinals dealt the Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team a 74-65 defeat in non-conference action Saturday at the Mabee Center.
The Bearcats yielded only two points in the final 4:45 of the game as the Cardinals finished the contest on a 13-2 run. The Bearcats held a 40-36 lead at the break, but shot 26.7% from the floor in the final 20 minutes as the Cardinals rallied for the triumph. Northwest held the lead for 68.7% of the game.
Northwest is 8-5 overall, while William Jewell is 5-6 overall.
Northwest Missouri State opened the game with a strong offensive display, quickly establishing a 20-8 advantage midway through the half.
Aiden Gair sparked this momentum with a fast-break 3-pointer at 17:17, while
Trey Moala and Robert Garcia added layups to extend the lead. Despite a late push from William Jewell, including a tying 3-pointer by Justice Sutton at 4:03, the Bearcats regained control in the closing seconds with a 3-pointer by
Matthew Mayes at 0:40. The half concluded with Northwest Missouri State leading 40-36.
The Bearcats started the second half strong with Mayes scoring a jumper in the paint, expanding their lead.
Royce Williams contributed significantly, hitting a layup and a 3-pointer to maintain the advantage. Despite a 3-pointer by William Jewell's Bradley Lightbourne tying the game at 65 with 3:26 remaining, the Bearcats managed to keep pace but were overtaken in the final minutes. William Jewell capitalized on late opportunities, including a crucial 3-pointer by Justice Sutton at the 1:06 mark, to secure a 74–65 victory as the game concluded.
Mayes scored 16 points and collected six rebounds, providing a solid presence on both ends of the court. Williams also contributed 16 points and added nine rebounds, showcasing his consistency in the paint.
Larenz Walters was effective from the free-throw line, converting all six attempts and adding three steals on defense. Gair tallied nine points, hitting three 3-pointers and dishing out three assists.
In their next game, the Bearcats will travel to Hays, Kansas, to face Fort Hays State on Thursday, Jan. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
