The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team defeated Central Methodist, 83-72, on Tuesday evening at Bearcat Arena in Maryville, Mo.

Tuesday’s game was the home opener for the Bearcats, who improved to 2-2 overall.

Five Bearcats reached double figures, led by D’Vante Mosby’s second double-double of the season, scoring a season-high 20 points with 12 rebounds.

Justin Pitts had a game-high 22 points and hit a career-high six three pointers. He also had four assists and four steals. Conner Crooker hit four three pointers and a pair of free throws, finishing with a season-high 14 points.  Anthony Woods scored 10 points off the bench, tying a season-high with four rebounds. He was 4-of-6 from the field.  Chris-Ebou Ndow added 11 points with a six rebounds. He hit a season-best two long range jumpers.

Central Methodist climbed back from an eight-point deficit to tie the game at 26-26 with 3:27 left in the first half. Northwest responded with back-to-back three pointers from Pitts and Crooker. After an Eagles jumper fell, Ndow hit a three off a feed from Pitts to give the Bearcats a seven point lead at 35-28. Central Methodist tried to respond with a three but missed. After a failed putback, Northwest closed the half with another three pointer by Pitts off a feed from Dougherty to take a 38-28 lead into the half.

Central Methodist pulled to within four, 41-37, with 16:43 left in the second half. Mosby missed a layup on the next possession but got his own rebound and finished to put Northwest up, 43-37. After a Pitts Steal, Woods scored and was fouled on the fast break on a feed from Crooker. He hit the free throw to give Northwest a nine point lead, 46-37. After another steal by Pitts, Woods drew another foul and hit 1-of-2 to put the Bearcats up, 47-37. The Eagles hit a layup on the next possession but Mosby cleaned up a missed three pointer from Pitts to keep Northwest up, 49-39. After another turnover, Mosby again hit the offensive boards, rebounding a Dougherty missed layup for another easy two points. The Northwest lead would not fall under double-digits for the remainder of the game.

Northwest returns to Bearcat Arena for a Black Friday matchup with Kansas Wesleyan at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27.

— Northwest Athletics —