Looking to clinch at least a share of the MIAA regular season title a zealous comeback by 14th-ranked Northwest Missouri State came up short as the Bearcats fell to Central Missouri 76-63 Saturday afternoon inside Bearcat Arena.

With the loss Northwest fell to 20-4 on the year and 14-4 in the MIAA. The Mules improved to 17-7 overall and 13-5 in league play as they snapped a seven game winning streak by the Bearcats and sweep the season series.

Northwest would fall behind by as many as 15 at the 4:45 mark of the second half, but stage feverous late rally. A three-pointer from DeShaun Cooper and a pair of free throws by Jake Reinders shrunk the Northwest deficit to single digits.

However, the Bearcats could not get the ball to bounce their way as the Mules knocked down five free throws in the final 1:24 of the game to seal the win.

UCM got major offensive production from its starting five as four starters finished in double figures, led by Boo Hunter with 14 points.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, but the struggles would only carry over into the second half for Northwest. UCM went on to shot a sizzling 67 percent from the field in the second half and was 20-of-26 from the free throw line as a team.

Senior Jake Reinders was forced away from the basket much of the contest as the 63 percent shooter managed to go only 5-of-12 from the field. Reinders only had two points in the first half, but scored 14 second half points to help pace the Bearcat comeback including a 6-for-6 effort from the charity stripe.

Northwest will look to clinch at least a share of the MIAA regular season title on Tuesday as they travel to Southwest Baptist for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. The Bearcats will be looking for a season sweep of their purple foe and their first championship since the 2006-07 season.

— NWMSU Sports Information —