Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team took a double-digit lead into halftime and maintained it most of the second half.
But Northwest’s 70-59 victory over Lindenwood Wednesday evening at Bearcat Arena wasn’t as easy as the sizeable lead made it look.
For a team that entered the late-season road game with a losing record, Lindenwood played hard throughout and made Northwest work for its 19th victory.
The win helped Northwest stay in first place in the MIAA. With three regular-season games left, Northwest heads into Saturday’s contest at Missouri Western with a 19-6 overall record and 14-2 in the MIAA.
“We have a tough road game on Saturday,” said senior Dillon Starzl, who finished with 13 points. “We just have to come out and attack each game with the mentality that we are going to be more aggressive and fight in each possession against every team.”
The Lions gave themselves a brief bit of upset hope when they started the second half with a three-pointer, closing to 31-24.
Northwest scored the next five points and held a double-digit lead until 1 minute remained in the game.
It was a workmanlike effort that was impressive in its efficiency by the Bearcats. Northwest played great defense and fundamental, inside-outside offense.
For example, midway through the second half, Matt Wallace passed the ball inside to Starzl, who powered through for a layup, giving Northwest a 45-31 lead.
“At halftime, he (Northwest coach Ben McCollum) said I wasn’t being aggressive enough,” Starzl said. “He said I needed to act like the player I am and stop being passive and go to the hole and score.
“It worked a little better in the second half. I should get that mindset at the start of the game.”
Several possessions later, Bryston Williams dumped the ball inside to Starzl, who again went up strong for a field goal in the paint, making it 59-35.
Those inside buckets opened the outside for sophomore Conner Crooker, who knocked down three-pointers. One of them gave Northwest a 54-40 lead.
Crooker made four of five from three-point range, in part because Starzl and Grant Cozad combined to go 9 for 13 from the field, most of which came in the paint.
“We were getting more post touches for Dillon and they were doubling up and I was able to relocate and Dillon would find me,” Crooker said. “I was getting open shots.”
The Bearcats lead bloomed to 63-47, but Lindenwood kept playing hard and with a minute left, the Lions trailed 68-59.
After a somewhat sluggish start that saw Northwest give up the first six points in the game, the Bearcats finished the first half strong.
Freshman Zach Schneider drained back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute of the half, sending the Bearcats into halftime with a 31-21 lead.
“That was key for us because we were struggling in the first half,” Starzl said. “Zach hit two big threes at the end of the first half and that really got us going into halftime.
“We knew coach Mac was mad at us already so it helped us a little bit, but we got to come out more aggressive.”
Lindenwood put a smidgen of a scare into the Bearcats when it led 8-3 early on. Northwest immediately went on an 11-0 run to quickly bring order to the game.
But Lions refused to let Northwest to roll on by them. They stayed close, facing small deficits of 19-17 and 21-19.
Bearcat defense is what tamed the Lions. Northwest allowed only seven Lindenwood field goals in the first half.
Northwest will head to Missouri Western for a 1:30 p.m. game on Saturday against the Griffons. The first 100 Northwest students who show their Bearcat card at the Missouri Western ticket office will receive FREE admission to the game. Students arriving after the 100 tickets are given out can purchase tickets for $5 each.
— Northwest Sports Information —