Senior Dillon Starzl had a career-high 27 points but the Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team fell to No. 13 Midwestern State, 78-71, on Friday evening on the opening day of the Hillyard Tipoff Classic at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse on Friday. Northwest is now 1-2 on the season while Midwestern State improves to 3-0.

Starzl was 8-of-14 from the field and hit 11 of his 13 free throws to lead the Bearcats with 27 points. Last season, Starzl had 25 points against Northeastern State (3/7/13). Bryston Williams had 12 points on the evening. Conner Crooker and Grant Cozad each added 11 points.

The Bearcats held close through the first half and trailed by just five points at the halftime break, 38-33. Northwest opened the second half with a 17-5 run, including a couple of three pointers from Crooker. The lead would grow to as many as 10 with 11:24 remaining in the game on a pair of Starzl free throws, 56-46. But Midwestern State rallied and eventually took the lead back with 2:36 remaining. The Bearcats would get back within two with 25 seconds remaining as Williams hit a pair of free throws. But the Mustangs hit five of their lastseven free throws to pull away for the victory.

Northwest will play William Jewell at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow on the final day of the Hillyard Tipoff Classic.

— NWMSU Sports Information —