The Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team fell to UCM in the final game of the regular season, 76-64, on Saturday at the Multi in Warrensburg, Mo. Northwest finishes the season as co-MIAA champions, going 21-7 overall and 16-3 in conference play. UCM secured a share of the MIAA title and finished the year with a 24-4 record, tying the Bearcats with a 16-3 league record.

Dillon Starzl scored a game-high 18 points but was saddled with four fouls midway through the second half. DeShaun Cooper finished with 16 points, three assists and a steal. He was a perfect 7-for-7 from the line. Zach Schneider hit four clutch three pointers to finish with 12 points. Matt Wallace had a team-high seven rebounds. Northwest shot 40 percent from the field (20-for-50) but turned the ball over 15 times. UCM shot 51 percent from the field (26-for-51) and blocked three shots.

UCM jumped out to an early first half lead thanks to a 53.6 shooting percentage, as the Mules went 15-for-28 from the field. Starzl led all scorers with 14 at the break. The Mules led by as many as 14 points, 35-21, at the 6:23 mark.

Northwest will be the No. 2 seed in the upcoming MIAA tournament in Kansas City. The Bearcats will play the winner of the No. 10 and No. 7 seed game at 6 p.m. on Friday, March. 7 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

— Northwest Sports Information —