Thursday, Feb. 19 | 7:30 p.m. (CT) | Bearcat Arena | Maryville, Mo.
Northeastern State at Northwest Missouri State
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Saturday, Feb. 21 | 3:30 p.m. (CT) | Bearcat Arena | Maryville, Mo.
Arkansas-Fort Smith at Northwest Missouri State
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THIS WEEK'S ACTION
The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team (12-14 overall, 5-10 MIAA) will close out the home portion of its 2025-26 season with contests against Northeastern State (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.) and Arkansas-Fort Smith (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.).
    The Bearcats are tied for 11th in the MIAA standings. The top 10 teams will qualify for the 2026 MIAA Tournament set for March 4-8 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
    Northwest went 1-1 on the road by scoring an 81-74 victory at Missouri Southern and dropped a 68-67 decision at Pittsburg State.
    Northeastern State is 12-12 overall and 5-10 in MIAA play. The RiverHawks have lost three straight entering play Thursday at Bearcat Arena. NSU is 2-7 on the road this year. NSU and Northwest are tied for 11th place in the league standings.
    Arkansas-Fort Smith is 18-6 overall and 9-6 league action. The Lions are 5-5 on the road. UAFS has last two straight games entering this week's slate of games at Missouri Western and Northwest.

SENIOR DAY SATURDAY
Northwest will honor seven seniors who will take to their home court for the final time against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
    Northwest will recognize Aiden Gair, Gob Gob, Matthew Mayes, Trey Moala, Jack Ratigan, Jack Webb and Royce Williams.
    Gair (Williamsport, Pa.) has scored 788 career points between Millersville and Northwest. Gair has made 160 career three-pointers. He is averaging 13.1 points per game this year.
    Gob (Manchester, N.H.) has played in 24 games between UMKC and Northwest. Gob has seen action in five games this season and is averaging 1.4 ppg.
    Mayes (Inglewood, Calif.) has played in 67 games between Western Washington, Henderson State and Northwest. He has totaled 580 points at the NCAA Div. II level. Mayes is averaging 11.7 points per game this season.
    Moala (Paola, Kan.) has played in 80 games as a Bearcat. Moala has started 36 games. He has tallied 168 points and 113 rebounds. He is averaging 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season.
    Ratigan (Overland Park, Kan.) has seen action in 82 games and has drawn 45 starts as a Bearcat. Ratigan has scored 399 points and totaled 355 rebounds. He is averaging 4.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game this year.
    Webb (Leawood, Kan.) has played in 35 games at Central Michigan and Northwest. Webb has seen action in six games this for the Bearcats.
    Williams (Manchester, N.H.) has played in 95 games combined between Southern New Hampshire and Northwest. Williams leads Northwest in scoring at 13.8 ppg this year.

ALL-TIME VS. NORTHEASTERN ST
Northwest holds a 19-1 lead all-time against Northeastern State.
    Northwest has won 18 straight matchups with NSU. Since NSU joined the MIAA, it is 0-17 against Northwest.

ALL-TIME VS. UAFS
Northwest won the first meeting between the two programs with a 64-56 victory last year in Fort Smith, Ark.

'CATS DEFEND THE ARC
Northwest ranks No. 2 in the MIAA and No. 16 in the nation in three-point field goal percentage defense (29.3%).
    Only three of 26 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.

TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NATION
Northwest has played the nation's toughest schedule this season.
    Northwest's opponent win percentage is .649 (361-195) through 26 games.
    Emporia State ranks No. 2 with a .643 opponent winning percentage (353-196).

GARCIA WITH A TOUCH OF SCORING
Freshman Robby Garcia has scored in double figures in seven of the last 10 games.
    Garcia netted a career-high 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor against Rogers State.
    Garcia is averaging 8.4 points per game. He is scoring 9.5 points per game in MIAA play.

ROYCE ROLLS UP NUMBERS
Senior guard Royce Williams leads the Bearcats in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounds (6.4 rpg), assists (97) and steals (41).

ROYCE AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
Williams is 69-of-80 (88.1%) at the free throw line. He ranks No. 4 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. Tim Jordan Jr. (Rogers St.)    .890
2. Connor Rogers (Pittsburg St.)    .875
3. Ja'Bryant Hill (Nebraska-Kearney)    .875
4. Royce Williams (Northwest Mo. St.)    .863
5. Kameron Johnson (Ark.-Ft. Smith)    .833

WILLIAMS IN MIAA PLAY
Senior guard Royce Williams ranks No. 10 in the league by averaging 15.8 points per game in MIAA games.
    Williams is 35-of-88 (39.8%) from three-point range in MIAA games, which ranks No. 3 in the league. Williams ranks tied for No. 6 in the MIAA with 35 made three-pointers in league games.
    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 Mo.)        53
2. Brandon Scott (Ark.-Fort Smith)    43
3. Lazerek Houston (Central Mo.)    41
4. Gavyn Elkamil (Mo. Southern)    39
5. Aiden Gair (Northwest Mo. St.)    37
6. Benard Omooria (Rogers St.)    36
    Royce Williams (Northwest Mo. St.)    35

MIAA-ONLY 3-FGS % - Leaders
1. Jevon Hill (Central Mo.)        .431
2. Gavyn Elkamil (Mo. Southern)    .411
3. Royce Williams (Northwest Mo. St.)    .398
4. Lazerek Houston (Central Mo.)    .390
5. Benard Omooria (Rogers St.)    .389

WALTERS AVERAGING NEARLY DOUBLE-FIGURES IN MIAA ACTION
Redshirt freshman Larenz Walters is averaging 9.9 points per game in MIAA contests. Walters has reached double-figure scoring in seven of Northwest's 15 MIAA games this season.
    Walters has made at least one three-pointer in 15 games. Walters has drained 21 three-pointers this season.
    Walters put up career-highs in points (24) and rebounds (8) in a double-overtime matchup with Nebraska-Kearney.
    
GAIR HITS TRIPLES
Senior Aiden Gair leads the team three-pointers made (65). Gair ranks second on the team in scoring (13.1 ppg).
    Gair had a streak of 24 straight games with a made three-pointer snapped in an 84-65 loss to Missouri Western. Gair had made one three-pointer in his first 21 games as a Bearcats and one in his final three games at Millersville.
    Gair has sank 160 three pointers in his NCAA collegiate career with 95 made triples at Millersville.
    Gair ranks tied for second in the MIAA in three-pointers made with 65. He ranks tied for No. 44 in the country in three-pointers made.
    
MIAA 3-Point FGs Made - Leaders
1. Jevon Hill (Central Mo.)    95
2. Aiden Gair (Northwest Mo. St.)    65
    Jack Bachelor (Washburn)    65
    Gavyn Elkamil (Mo. Southern)    65
5. Lazerek Houston (Central Mo.)    59
    Tom Connelly (Neb.-Kearney)    59

SCORING NOTES
Senior Aidan Gair gained his seventh career 20-point scoring game with 21 points at Missouri Southern. Gair has tallied 42 career double-figure scoring games.
    Senior Royce Williams has put up 33 career double-figure scoring games with 24 points at Missouri Southern and 18 at Pittsburg State. Williams has had seven 20-point scoring games in college.
    Redshirt freshman Presley Ibeh notched his sixth career double-figure performance with 13 points aat Missouri Southern.
    Freshman Robby Garcia secured his 10th double-figure scoring game with 11 points at Pittsburg State.
        
Career Double-Figure Scoring Games
Aiden Gair - 42
Royce Williams - 33
Matthew Mayes - 29
Trey Moala - 13
Jack Ratigan - 12
Robby Garcia - 10
Larenz Walters - 8
Presley Ibeh - 6
Gob Gob - 2
Mikhail Abdul-Hamid - 1

Career 20-Point Scoring Games
Aiden Gair - 7
Royce Williams - 7
Matthew Mayes - 2

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

GET TO 70 FOR THE WIN
Northwest is 12-3 this season when scoring 70 or more points.

80 OR MORE FOR KEELEY
The Bearcats are 9-1 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 7-1 this season when scoring 80 or more points.

Northwest Scoring 80 or More (Keeley)
W, 81-74 at Missouri Southern (2/12/26)
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)

HALFTIME DEFICITS ERASED
Twice this season, Northwest has faced a halftime deficit and rallied to win the contest.
    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.
    Northwest also faced a 33-30 deficit against Central Oklahoma, but rallied to score a 72-65 victory over the Bronchos in Bearcat Arena.

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.

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 was only his third double-figure scoring game of the season. He came into the contest averaging 3.4 points per game.

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.

RATIGAN RATCHES UP A DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Junior forward Jack Ratigan collected his first double-double of the season and third of his career against Rogers State. Ratigan added 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. the Hillcats.
    Ratigan has reached 10 or more rebounds twice this season with a career-high 17 against Nebraska-Kearney.
    Ratigan has garnered five double-figure rebound games as a Bearcat.

Career Double-Doubles
Jack Ratigan - 3
Royce Williams - 2

MAYES IS A SCORING BOOST, AT A HIGH PERCENTAGE
Senior Matthew Mayes is third on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg).
    Mayes is shooting 51.1% from the floor having drained 67-of-131 shots.
    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 180-30, including a tally of 121-24 in MIAA play.
    Since Jan. 14, 2015, Northwest has compiled a home record of 135-23. In that same stretch, Northwest is 97-18 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    4-6 (1-5)

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.