WICHITA, Kan. — Northwest narrowly defeated Newman 68-65 on Thursday at Fugate Gymnasium, rallying in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit.
 
With the win over Newman, the Bearcats have clinched their number ten spot in the MIAA postseason tournament. Northwest improved to 14-15 overall and 7-11 in the MIAA. Newman fell to 5-22 overall and 1-17 in league play.
 
The game began with both teams trading leads, but the Bearcats managed to keep pace with Newman's early scoring efforts. Presley Ibeh's dunk at 17:33 tied the game at 5, and Aiden Gair's fastbreak layup at 12:55 put the Bearcats ahead momentarily. Despite trailing by as many as five points, the Bearcats stayed competitive with precise shooting from beyond the arc, including a 3-pointer by Royce Williams at 4:50 that narrowed the gap to 35–30.
 
With just five seconds remaining, Williams added a jumper to bring the Bearcats within one point, ending the half trailing 37–36. The first half concluded with Newman holding a narrow lead over the Bearcats.
 
The Bearcats took control midway through the second half with a significant push, highlighted by Williams' consecutive scoring plays, including a layup and two free throws, giving them a 53-49 advantage with 12:49 remaining. They maintained their momentum as Trey Moala's layup at 11:25 further extended their lead. Despite the Jets' efforts to close the gap, including a 3-pointer by Jacob Joe with 45 seconds left, the Bearcats held firm. Williams sealed the win with two crucial free throws at 15 seconds, securing a 68-65 victory to close the game.
 
Williams led the Bearcats with 21 points, making 5 of 11 field goals and converting 8 of 9 free throws, while also collecting eight rebounds. Robert Garcia contributed 19 points, hitting 8 of 12 from the field, and added two blocks and three steals. Ibeh recorded three steals and grabbed four offensive rebounds. Gair finished with nine points and provided one assist.
 
Northwest will face Emporia State University on Saturday, Feb. 28 to finish out the regular season. The game is set for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off in Emporia, Kan.