Saturday, Dec. 13 | 1 p.m. (CT) | Bearcat Arena | Maryville, Mo.
Missouri S&T vs. Northwest Missouri State
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BEARCATS RETURN TO ACTION AFTER FINALS WITH MINERS
The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team (7-3 overall, 1-1 MIAA) will return to action after finishing finals week with a home game Saturday at 1 p.m. against nationally-ranked Missouri S&T.

ALL-TIME VS. MISSOURI S&T
Northwest holds a 97-43 lead in the all-time series against Missouri S&T.
    The Miners last win in Bearcat Arena came in a 82-79 triumph on Jan. 4, 1999.
    Missouri S&T was a long-time member of the MIAA and left the league after the 2004-05 season. The Miners are members of the GLVC.
    Missouri S&T reached its fourth NCAA Tournament bid in 2025 - its first since 1996.

NORTHWEST SURPASSES WIN TOTAL FROM LAST YEAR
Through only 10 games this season, the Bearcat men's basketball team has surpassed its win total from last year (6-22). The Bearcats are 7-3 this season having won seven of their last nine games.
    Northwest is 3-0 at home this season after going 0-10 in Bearcat Arena in 2024-25.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN BEARCAT ARENA
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest has compiled a home mark of 179-24, including a tally of 121-19 in MIAA play.
    Since Jan. 14, 2015, Northwest has compiled a home record of 134-17. In that same stretch, Northwest is 97-13 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    3-0 (1-0)

WILLIAMS HITS FOR 30 VS ESU
Senior guard Royce Williams registered a career-high 30 points in leading Northwest to a 77-70 win over Emporia State. It is the 12th 30-point game posted by an MIAA men's player this season.
    Williams also tied career-high with nine rebounds vs. the Hornets.
    Williams went 9-of-13 from the floor and was perfect at the free throw line by sinking all eight attempts. Williams buried 4-of-5 from three-point range vs. ESU.
    Williams put up 21 points at Missouri Western to open MIAA play.
    Williams is averaging 25.5 points per game in MIAA games. Williams is 8-of-13 (61.3%) from three-point range in MIAA games.

ROYCE IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF
Senior guard Royce Williams is the only MIAA player this season to average at least 14.0 ppg, grab at least 50 rebounds, nab at least 20 steals and knock down at least 15 three-pointers.

ROYCE ROLLS UP NUMBERS
Senior guard Royce Williams leads the team in scoring (14.8 ppg), steals (21) and rebounding (5.8 rpg). Williams ranks No. 14 in the MIAA in scoring and No. 15 in the league in rebounding.
    Williams ranks No. 11 in the nation and No. 4 in the MIAA in steals (21).
    
ROYCE IS HOT FROM THE LINE
Williams is 29-of-30 (96.7%) at the free throw line and has made 27 consecutive free throws entering Saturday's game vs. Missouri S&T. He ranks tied for No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the  MIAA in free throw percentage.
    
WALTERS NETS BACK-TO-BACK STRONG SCORING EFFORTS
Redshirt freshman Larenz Walters scored a career-high 16 points against Missouri Western and followed it up with a 14-point performance at home against Emporia State.
    Walters is averaging 14.0 points per game in MIAA play and 8.1 points per game in all games.

GAIR ADDS SCORING FLAIR
Senior Aiden Gair leads the team in assists (33) and three-pointers made (28). He ranks second on the squad in scoring (13.8 ppg).
    Gair has sank 123 three pointers in his NCAA collegiate career with 95 made triples at Millersville.
    Gair ranks second in the MIAA in three-pointers made with 28, trailing Central Missouri's Jevon Hill (39).
    He ranks No. 11 in the country in three-pointers made (28).
    
MIAA 3-Point FGs Made - Leaders
1. Jevin Hill (Central Missouri)    39
2. Aiden Gair (Northwest Mo. St.)    28
3. Jack Bachelor (Washburn)    27
4. Gavyn Elkamil (Mo. Southern)    26
5. Landon Short (Pittsburg St.)    25

NCAA Div. II 3-Point FGs Made - Leaders
1. Jevin Hill (Central Missouri)    39
2. Isaiah Davis (Illinois-Springfield)    38
3. Preston Le Gassick (Palm Beach Atl.)    35
4. Jakob Zenon (Ark.-Monticello)    34
5. Aidan Rice (Western Wash.)    32
6. Ezekial Cannedy (Fayetteville St.)    30
    Rashawn Inglemon (Anderson)    30
8. Nathan Medina (Chaminade)    29
    John Pecariach (Bemidji St.)    29
    Dae'Kwon Watson (St. Martin's)    29
11. Aiden Gair (Northwest Mo. St.)    28
    Rowan Carmichael (Edinboro)    28

MAYES IS A SCORING BOOST
Senior Matthew Mayes is third on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg).
    Mayes is shooting 52.8% from the floor having drained 38-of-72 shots. Mayes ranks No. 7 in the MIAA in field goal percentage.
    Mayes came off the bench in the first four games and has been in the starting lineup in each of the last five contests.

SCORING NOTES
Senior Royce Williams tallied his first career 30-point game with a 30-point effort against Emporia State. Williams went for 30 vs. ESU and 21 at Missouri Western. Williams has 21 double-figure games and five 20-point scoing games as a collegian.
    Senior Aiden Gair secured his 32nd career double-figure scoring game with 15 points against Emporia State
    Redshirt freshman Larenz Walters gained his second career double-figure scoring game with 14 points vs. Emporia State.

Career Double-Figure Scoring Games
Aiden Gair - 32
Matthew Mayes - 24
Royce Williams - 21
Jack Ratigan - 11
Trey Moala - 10
Robby Garcia - 2
Gob Gob - 2
Larenz Walters - 2
Presley Ibeh - 1

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

Career 30-Point Scoring Games
Aiden Gair - 1
Royce Williams - 1

ACTIVE DOUBLE-DOUBLES LIST
Junior Jack Ratigan owns Northwest's only active career double-doubles with two.

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. ranked 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)

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.