The Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team was tabbed No. 19 by the Division II Bulletin Preseason Poll for the upcoming 2012-13 season.

The Bearcats are the defending MIAA Champions after going 22-7 a season ago and 15-5 in the MIAA. The Bearcats also claimed the program’s 13th trip to the NCAA tournament as fourth-year Head Coach Ben McCollum was named MIAA Coach of the Year.

A trio of seniors will return in 2012-13 for the Bearcats including Preseason All-American DeShaun Cooper. Cooper, who was a First Team All-MIAA selection a year ago, led Northwest in scoring with 14.7 points per game and was in the top three in free-throw percentage.

Along with Cooper, the Bearcats return Alex Sullivan and DeAngelo Hailey to round out the Northwest senior class. Bryston Williams also returns, nearly topping the league in free-throw percentage as Hailey averaged over 10 points per game off the bench and joined Sullivan near the MIAA leaders in three-point percentage.

Junior Dillon Starzl returns in the post for Northwest as the other lone starter to return with Cooper. Starzl averaged 4.3 rebounds per game and shot 56 percent from the field last season.

The Bearcats will hold their annual Bearcat Bash Thursday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. inside Bearcat Arena. Fans can get their first look at the 2012-13 basketball teams and meet the players and coaches.

Northwest opens its season Oct. 29 in exhibition action at the University of Missouri. Game time from Mizzou Arena is set for 7 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —