FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season with a 64-56 victory at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Saturday at the Stubblefield Center.
 
Northwest moved its overall season mark to 6-20 and 4-13 in MIAA action. UAFS dipped to 11-15 overall and 5-12 in league play.
 
"It was a gritty type of rock fight today," head coach Matt Keeley said. "We showed some versatility in winning a pair of road games in two different ways on this trip. I thought today we matched their physicality."
 
Northwest held the Lions to 19 points below their scoring average and limited the home squad to 27.6% field goal shooting. It is the lowest percentage Northwest has held a team to this season – besting the previous low of 32.3% vs. Chadron State.
 
Ja'Vion Byers led the scoring attack with his second 20-point performance this season. Byers tallied 21 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Byers grabbed six rebounds and handed out three assists.
 
Byron Alexander notched 12 points and nine rebounds in 18 minutes of action as he battled foul trouble throughout the Bearcat win. Alexander went 5-of-6 from the field, including a three-pointer.
 
Trey Moala contributed with seven points and eight rebounds off the bench. Emorie Knox also provided a boost off the bench with seven points, five rebounds and four assists.
 
Northwest took a 7-2 lead barely two minutes into the contest. UAFS took a brief lead at 10-9 with 13:22 to play. Northwest then locked down on defense and limited the UAFS scoring attack. Northwest held UAFS scoreless for 7:08 as the Bearcats scored 10 straight points to take a 19-10 lead. Northwest limited UAFS to one made field goal for a stretch of 8:39 that had the Lions shooting 1-of-14 from the floor during that period.
 
Northwest ultimately had a 17-5 spurt that gave the Bearcats a 26-15 edge with 3:00 left in the half. Northwest took a 30-17 advantage at the break.
 
UAFS turned a 32-18 deficit into a two-point game at 33-31 in the first eight minutes of the second half. Northwest got a bucket from Byron Alexander with 18:24 left in the game and then went 7:59 without a made field goal.
 
UAFS put together a 13-1 run before Ja'Vion Byers made a pair of free throws and Marcus Glock buried a three-pointer to give Northwest a 38-31 lead with 10:25 remaining in the game. Northwest made it a 9-1 run following buckets from Jack Ratigan and Byers that pushed the Bearcat lead to 42-32 with 8:38 left to play.
 
Northwest extended the run to 14-3 as Byers took control of the contest. Byers scored nine points in the run to give Northwest a 47-34 lead with 7:37 remaining in the contest. A Luke Moustakas three-pointer provided the Bearcats with their biggest lead of the day at 57-40 with 1:48 to play.
 
The final minute turned into a free throw shooting contest as Northwest made seven free throws, while UAFS also made seven from the charity stripe. Northwest closed out the victory, 64-56.
 
Northwest will return home to take on Newman (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.) and Emporia State (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.). The Bearcats will honor four seniors Saturday against the Hornets in their final home games of their collegiate careers.
 
NOTES: Northwest has won five road games this season, including four in MIAA play … Northwest is 4-6 on the road in MIAA action … Northwest is 5-7 overall on the road in the 2024-25 season … the 17 first-half points allowed by Northwest was the fewest allowed this season by the Bearcats … Emporia State put up 27 first-half points on Dec. 5 for the previous first-half low allowed by the Bearcats this season … Northwest held UAFS to two made field goals in the final 13 minutes of the first half … Northwest's 13-point halftime lead was the largest advantage the Bearcats have had at halftime this season – besting the previous mark of nine (38-29) at Central Missouri  on Jan. 9 in Warrensburg, Mo. … UAFS came into the contest averaging 75.4 points per game … Northwest is 5-3 when leading at the half … Luke Moustakas has made at least one three-pointer in 21 games this season … Emorie Knox has connected on at least one made triple in 19 contests … Marcus Glock has made at least one three-pointer in 20 games, including 16 of 17 MIAA contests.