The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats men’s basketball team and head coach Ben McCollum announced their 2011-12 schedule on Wednesday highlighted by a pair of Division I exhibition games with Iowa and UMKC.

The Bearcats open the season on November 6, in Iowa City with the Hawkeyes followed by a second exhibition game in Kansas City with UMKC, before officially opening the season on November 15, at Bearcat Arena against Waldorf College.

Northwest will down Highway 71 for the Hillyard Classic hosted by Missouri Western taking on GLVC opponents Rockhurst and William Jewell November 18 and 19 at 5:30 p.m. each night.  A five-game home stand stretches through the end of November and into December opening MIAA play on November 30 with Emporia State.

Another five-game stretch will see the Bearcats on the road continuing MIAA play opening December 17, on the road at MIAA Tournament Champion Fort Hays State.

Also for the 2011-12 season the Bearcats host rival Missouri Western February 11, and will close out the season with MIAA regular season champion Missouri Southern at Bearcat Arena on February 25.

Again March, 2-4 will host the MIAA post-season tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City where the top eight teams will vie for the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Visit www.northwestbearcats.com for the full 2011-12 schedule.

— NWMSU Sports Information —