Wednesday, Jan. 7 | 7:30 p.m. (CT) | Bearcat Arena | Maryville, Mo.
Central Missouri vs. Northwest Missouri State
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Saturday, Jan. 10 | 3:30 p.m. (CT) | Mabee Center | Liberty, Mo.
No. 1 Washburn at Northwest Missouri State
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THIS WEEK'S ACTION
The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team (9-6 overall, 2-2 MIAA) will take its home court for the first time in 2026 against Central Missouri (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.) and No. 1-ranked Washburn (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.).
    Central Missouri is 12-4 overall and 3-1 in MIAA play. The Mules have recorded league wins over Fort Hays State (W, 64-50), Nebraska-Kearney (W, 99-69) and Emporia State (W, 78-71).
    Washburn is 14-0 overall and 4-0 in MIAA action. The Ichabods possess MIAA wins over Nebraska-Kearney (W, 92-64), Fort Hays State (W, 73-66), Central Missouri (W, 78-72 2OT) and Emporia State (W, 91-66). The Ichabods lead the nation in scoring margin (+29.0).

ALL-TIME VS. CENTRAL MO.
Central Missouri owns a 129-103 lead in the all-time series against Northwest. Northwest has won 17 of the last 18 meetings.

ALL-TIME VS. WASHBURN
Washburn holds a 68-59 edge in the all-time series with Northwest. The Ichabods won both meetings last year after having lost seven in a row to the Bearcats.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN BEARCAT ARENA
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northwest has compiled a home mark of 180-25, including a tally of 121-19 in MIAA play.
    Since Jan. 14, 2015, Northwest has compiled a home record of 135-18. 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    4-1 (1-0)

GET TO 70 FOR THE WIN
Northwest is 9-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points.

80 OR MORE FOR KEELEY
The Bearcats are 7-0 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.
    Nothwest is 5-0 this season when scoring 80 or more points.

Northwest Scoring 80 or More (Keeley)
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)

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.

ROYCE ROLLS UP NUMBERS
Senior guard Royce Williams leads the Bearcats in scoring (13.9 ppg), rebounds (6.1 rpg), assists (46) and steals (24).
    
ROYCE IS HOT FROM THE LINE
Williams is 45-of-49 (91.8%) at the free throw line. He ranks No. 11 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.

WILLIAMS UPS HIS SCORING IN MIAA PLAY
Senior guard Royce Williams registered a career-high 30 points in leading Northwest to a 77-70 win over Emporia State.
    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 ranks No. 3 in the league by averaging 21.8 points per game in MIAA games. Williams is 13-of-25 (52.0%) from three-point range in MIAA games.

MIAA-ONLY SCORING - Leaders
1. Matthew Willenborg (UCO)    24.5
2. Jaden Taylor (Missouri Southern)    22.5
3. Royce Williams (Northwest Mo. St.)    21.8
4. Josh Nwankwo (UCO)        21.7
5. Xavier Glenn (Northeastern St.)    19.8

WALTERS AVERAGING DOUBLE-FIGURES IN MIAA ACTION
Redshirt freshman Larenz Walters is averaging 12.3 points per game in MIAA contests. Walters has reached double figure scoring in three of Northwest's four MIAA games this season. Walters had a career-high 19 points at UNK. He also scored 16 points against Missouri Western and 14 vs. Emporia State.

GAIR BURIES TRIPLES
Senior Aiden Gair leads the team three-pointers made (40).
    Gair has sank 135 three pointers in his NCAA collegiate career with 95 made triples at Millersville.
    Gair ranks second in the MIAA in three-pointers made with 40. He ranks tied for No. 22 in the country in three-pointers made.
    
MIAA 3-Point FGs Made - Leaders
1. Jevon Hill (Central Missouri)    56
2. Aiden Gair (Northwest Mo. St.)    40
    Jack Bachelor (Washburn)    40
4. Gavyn Elkamil (Mo. Southern)    36
    Gavin Hershberger (Mo. West.)    36

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. 13 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.

SCORING NOTES
Senior Aiden Gair notched his sixth career 20-point scoring game with a 25-point effort at Nebraska-Kearney. Gair has reached double-figure scoring in 35 collegiate contests.
    Senior Royce Williams also secured his sixth career 20-point game with 25 points at Nebraska-Kearney. Williams has produced 24 double-figure scoring games as a collegian.
    Senior Matthew Mayes recorded his 29th career double-figure scoring game with 10 points at UNK.
    Junior Trey Moala put up his 12th career double-figure scoring game with 10 points at UNK.
    Redshirt freshman Larenz Walters secured a career-high 19 points and his fourth double-figure scoring game his career at UNK.

Career Double-Figure Scoring Games
Aiden Gair - 35
Matthew Mayes - 29
Royce Williams - 24
Trey Moala - 12
Jack Ratigan - 11
Larenz Walters - 4
Robby Garcia - 3
Gob Gob - 2
Presley Ibeh - 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

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.

35-10 VS. RANKED OPPONENTS SINCE 2015-16
Northwest is 35-10 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, 80-54 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)

NORTHWEST SURPASSES WIN TOTAL FROM LAST YEAR
The Bearcat men's basketball team has surpassed its win total from last year (6-22). The Bearcats are 9-6 this season.

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.