Saturday, Jan. 31 | 3:30 p.m. (CT) | Bearcat Arena | Maryville, Mo.
Missouri Western at Northwest Missouri State
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THIS WEEK'S ACTION
The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team (10-11 overall, 3-7 MIAA) will defend its home court against the Missouri Western Griffons Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.
    Northwest is fresh off an 80-79 comeback win at Central Missouri last Friday.
    The Griffons (13-8 overall, 5-5 MIAA) have lost two straight and three of four league games. The Griffons dropped matchups at Central Missouri (L, 97-83) and at No. 1 Washburn (L, 90-78).

ALL-TIME VS. THE GRIFFONS
Northwest holds a 67-39 lead in the all-time series vs. Missouri Western.
    The Griffons have won four straight in the series for the first time since the 1998-99 season.
Northwest has not lost four consecutive games against Missouri Western since the Griffons won four in a row from Feb. 21, 1998 to Feb. 20, 1999.

COMEBACK 'CATS
Northwest came back from a 12-point second-half deficit at Central Missouri to record an 80-79 road triumph in Warrensburg, Mo.
    UCM held a 66-54 lead with 8:08 left in the second half. Northwest out-scored UCM the rest of the way, 26-13. Nothwest's final bucket came with :02 left on a baseline jumper from senior Royce Williams to secure the one-point triumph.

HALFTIME DEFICIT ERASED
Northwest snapped an 0-for-27 stretch of losing when trailing at the half under head coach Matt Keeley with an 80-79 win at Central Missouri.
    The last time Northwest had trailed at the half and came back to win the game came in a 76-70 victory at Central Oklahoma on Feb. 29, 2024, under then head coach Ben McCollum.

KEELEY 2-0 AT UCM
Head coach Matt Keeley improved to 2-0 in two trips to the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center with an 80-79 victory over UCM on a last-second jumper by Royce Williams.
    Last season, Keeley led the Bearcats to a 63-62 last-second win over the Mules on a three-pointer from Luke Moustakas.

IBEH HITS FOR 17 AT UCM
Redshirt freshman Presley Ibeh posted a career-high 17 points, with 11 of them coming in the second half of Northwest's 80-79 win over Central Missouri.
    Ibeh went 7-of-11 from the floor and drained 2-of-3 from three-point range vs. the Mules.
    It is only his third double-figure scoring game of the season. He came into the contest averaging 3.4 points per game.

'CATS DEFEND THE ARC
Northwest ranks No. 3 in the MIAA and No. 23 in the nation in three-point field goal percentage defense (29.1%).
    Only three of 21 opponents have shot better than .400 from the arc this season against the Bearcats.
    UMSL went 10-of-22 (.455), Missouri Western went 10-of-20 (.500) and Nebraska-Kearney went 11-of-25 (.440) to be the only three teams to shoot better than 40% from distance against the Bearcats this season.

ROYCE ROLLS UP NUMBERS
Senior guard Royce Williams leads the Bearcats in scoring (13.4 ppg), rebounds (5.9 rpg), assists (71) and steals (34).
    
ROYCE IS HOT FROM THE LINE
Williams is 54-of-60 (90.0%) at the free throw line. He ranks No. 20 in the nation and No. 1 in the  MIAA in free throw percentage.
    Williams had a streak of 28 straight made free throws snapped with a miss against No. 12-ranked Missouri S&T.

MIAA Free Throw % - Leaders
1. Royce Williams (Northwest Mo. St.)    .900
2. Connor Rogers (Pittsburg St.)    .889
3. Tim Jordan Jr. (Rogers St.)    .875
4. Mason English (Pittsburg St.)    .865
5. Ja'Bryant Hill (Neb.-Kearney)    .856
6. Larenz Walters (Northwest Mo. St.)    .845

WILLIAMS IN MIAA PLAY
Senior guard Royce Williams ranks No. 10 in the league by averaging 16.1 points per game in MIAA games.
    Williams is 24-of-57 (42.1%) from three-point range in MIAA games. Williams is tied for fifth among MIAA players with 24 made three-pointers in league games only.
    Williams has a trio of 20-point scoring games in MIAA play with 30 against Emporia State, 25 at Nebraska-Kearney and 21 at Missouri Western.
    Williams registered a career-high 30 points in leading Northwest to a 77-70 win over Emporia State.

MIAA-ONLY 3-FGS MADE - Leaders
1. Jevon Hill (Central Missouri)    33
2. Aiden Gair (Northwest Mo. St.)    26
3. Benard Omooria (Rogers St.)    25
    Chris Harris (Emporia St.)    25
5. Royce Williams (Northwest Mo. St.)    24
    Brandon Scott (Ark.-Fort Smith)    24
    Lazerek Houston (Central Mo.)    24

WALTERS AVERAGING DOUBLE-FIGURES IN MIAA ACTION
Redshirt freshman Larenz Walters put up career-highs in points (24) and rebounds (8) in a double-overtime matchup with Nebraska-Kearney.
    Walters is averaging 11.3 points per game in MIAA contests. Walters has reached double-figure scoring in six of Northwest's 10 MIAA games this season.

GAIR HITS TRIPLES
Senior Aiden Gair leads the team three-pointers made (54). Gair ranks second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg).
    Gair has made at least one three-pointer in all 21 games as a Bearcat. He made a three-pointer in his final three games at Millersville giving him a streak of making at least one three-pointer in 24 consecutive collegiate contests.
    Gair has sank 149 three pointers in his NCAA collegiate career with 95 made triples at Millersville.
    Gair ranks second in the MIAA in three-pointers made with 54. He ranks tied for No. 23 in the country in three-pointers made.
    
MIAA 3-Point FGs Made - Leaders
1. Jevon Hill (Central Missouri)    75
2. Aiden Gair (Northwest Mo. St.)    54
3. Jack Bachelor (Washburn)    51
4. Gavyn Elkamil (Mo. Southern)    48
5. Benard Omooria (Rogers St.)    47

SCORING NOTES
Senior Aiden Gair has produced 38 career double-figure scoring games after a 16-point effort at UCM.
    Senior Royce Williams collected his 29th career double-figure contest with 16 points at UCM.
    Redshirt freshman Larenz Walters earned his seventh career double-figure scoring game with a 12-point contest at UCM.
    Redshirt freshman Presley Ibeh secured his third double-figure game with 17 points off the bench against UCM.
        
Career Double-Figure Scoring Games
Aiden Gair - 38
Matthew Mayes - 29
Royce Williams - 29
Trey Moala - 13
Jack Ratigan - 11
Robby Garcia - 7
Larenz Walters - 7
Presley Ibeh - 3
Gob Gob - 2
Mikhail Abdul-Hamid - 1

Career 20-Point Scoring Games
Aiden Gair - 6
Royce Williams - 6
Matthew Mayes - 2

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

GET TO 70 FOR THE WIN
Northwest is 10-3 this season when scoring 70 or more points.

80 OR MORE FOR KEELEY
The Bearcats are 8-1 when they score 80 or more points under head coach Matt Keeley.
    Northwest went 2-0 in the 2024-25 season when scoring 80 or more points.
    Northwest is 6-1 this season when scoring 80 or more points.

Northwest Scoring 80 or More (Keeley)
W, 80-75 at Central Missouri (1/23/26)
L, 96-89 (2OT) vs. Nebraska-Kearney (1/15/26)
W, 100-94 at Nebraska-Kearney (1/3/26)
W, 96-58 vs. Kansas Wesleyan (12/17/25)
W, 97-59 vs. York (11/26/25)
W, 85-72 vs. Augustana (11/15/25)
W, 82-79 vs. UMSL (11/1/25)
W, 81-74 at Northeastern State (2/20/25)
W, 83-80 at Central Washington (12/16/24)

JACK ATTACKS THE GLASS
Junior Jack Ratigan grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds against Nebraska-Kearney.
    Ratigan's 17 caroms are the most by a Bearcat in five seasons as Ryan Hawkins tallied a 17-rebound performance vs. Central Oklahoma (Jan. 23, 2021).
    Ratigan had one rebound at halftime vs. UNK before securing 16 in the second half and overtime periods. Ratigan's previous career-high for rebounds was 13.

MAYES IS A SCORING BOOST, AT A HIGH PERCENTAGE
Senior Matthew Mayes is tied for second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg).
    Mayes is shooting 51.2% from the floor having drained 64-of-125 shots. Mayes ranks No. 14 in the MIAA in field goal percentage.
    Mayes tied his career-high in points with 22 against Kansas Wesleyan. Mayes also had a 22-point scoring effort at Henderson State against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Feb. 6, 2025.

FOUR RETURNERS
The Bearcat roster features four players returning from last year's squad.
    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.

THIRD 90-POINT GAME
Northwest surpassed 90 points for the third time this season and second time in head coach Matt Keeley's career as a Bearcat with a 100-94 MIAA road win over Nebraska-Kearney.

BEARCATS HIT CENTURY MARK
Northwest reached the century mark for the first time under head coach Matt Keeley in a 100-94 win at Nebraska-Kearney.
    It was Northwest's first 100-point game since its 105-53 win over UNK on Feb. 1, 2024.

KEELEY IN OVERTIME GAMES
Northwest is 0-2 under head coach Matt Keeley in overtime contests. Keeley dropped an 80-76 overtime decision to Southwestern (Kan.) College on Dec. 20, 2024.
    Keeley and the Bearcats had a double-overtime setback against Nebraska-Kearney (Jan. 15, 2026), 96-89.

35-12 VS. RANKED OPPONENTS SINCE 2015-16
Northwest is 35-12 vs. ranked opponents since the 2015-16 season. Northwest has lost seven straight games against foes ranked in the NABC Top 25.

Bearcats vs. NABC Ranked Foes (Since 2016)
L, 94-44 at No. 1 Washburn (1/21/26)
L, 76-53 vs. No. 1 Washburn (1/10/26)
L, 80-54 vs. No. 12 Missouri S&T (12/13/25)
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)

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN BEARCAT ARENA
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest has compiled a home mark of 180-29, including a tally of 121-23 in MIAA play.
    Since Jan. 14, 2015, Northwest has compiled a home record of 135-22. In that same stretch, Northwest is 97-17 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    4-5 (1-4)

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.