KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat men’s basketball team thwarted an upset attempt by Emporia State University in the quarterfinals of the 2019 MIAA Tournament, 82-79.

Northwest (30-0 overall) forced a pair of turnovers in the final nine seconds to hold on to advance to the semifinals on Saturday at Noon. The first turnover came on an in-bounds pass from ESU’s Kam Rowan with :09 left when Trevor Hudgins deflected the pass back into Rowan’s hands. Then Ryan Welty tipped the in-bounds pass from ESU’s Kooper Glick with :02.7 left to secure the three-point victory for the Bearcats.

MIAA Player of the Year Joey Witthus and league Freshman of the Year Trevor Hudgins paced the Northwest offensive attack. Witthus poured in 27 points, including 14-of-18 at the free throw line. Hudgins made 9-of-21 field goals and was a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line. Northwest drained 32-of-39 at the line, while ESU made 16-of-21.

Sophomore Ryan Hawkins collected his 10th double-double on the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Emporia State relied heavily on the play of senior guard Julius Jackson. Jackson went for 38 points as he made 10-of-19 from the field, including 7-of-10 from three-point range. Jackson nailed 11-of-14 at the free throw line.

Northwest led by as many as 12 points in the first half at 19-7 with 10:52 on the clock. The Bearcats led 36-31 at the break. Northwest would lead by as many as 11 in the second half at 50-39 with 15:36 to play. However, Emporia State would battle back and knot the game at 71-71 on a Jackson three with 2:21 left. A Witthus bucket in the line gave Northwest a 75-73 lead with 1:12 remaining. Kooper Glick missed his first free throw in 29 attempts and could only bring ESU to within one at 75-74 with :50 to play. Witthus sank a pair of free throws with :29 left to put Northwest back up three, 77-74. Jackson drove for a layup and Witthus answered with two more at the charity stripe to set the stage for a pair of ESU turnovers and Northwest steals in the closing seconds.

Northwest will take on the winner of the No. 4 Fort Hays State-No. 5-Lincoln game on Saturday at noon. FHSU and Lincoln will play Friday at noon for the right to advance to the semifinals.

NOTES: Northwest extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 30 in a row … Northwest has won 27 straight games on neutral floors – also the longest active streak in the nation … Ben McCollum moved to 8-0 in MIAA quarterfinal games … McCollum is 16-4 all-time in the MIAA Tournament … Northwest won their 41st MIAA Tournament game … the Bearcats are 41-25 all-time in MIAA postseason play … Northwest is 3-0 all-time vs. Emporia State in MIAA Tournament action … Northwest has made 332 three-pointers this season – three short of the MIAA record set by Southwest Baptist in 2004-05 and 2008-09 … over the last three seasons, Northwest is 92-5 overall.

— Northwest Athletics —

BOLIVAR, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team recorded a doubleheader sweep of Southwest Baptist on Thursday.

Northwest rallied for wins in both contests. The Bearcats overcame a 6-0 deficit in the opener to score a 9-8 victory. Northwest trailed 7-4 in the nightcap when Enrique Gonzalez came through with a pinch-hit, two-out, grand slam to propel the Bearcats to an 8-7 win.

Northwest moved to 8-10 overall and 4-4 in MIAA conference play, while Southwest Baptist fell to 8-9 overall and 3-5 in the MIAA.

Game 1
Southwest Baptist bolted to a 6-0 lead through two innings of play with one in the first and five in the second.

Northwest hitters answered with one run in the top of the third, initiated by a one out single by sophomore infielder Matt Gastner. Senior infielder Logan Rycraft doubled to left field, advancing Gastner to third base. A sacrifice fly hit by senior infielder Mondesi Gutierrez scored Gastner to get the Bearcats on the board.

Southwest Baptist increased its lead back to six runs after putting another run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth.

During the top of the fifth is when the spectators saw the Northwest bats come to life. The Bearcats tallied six runs on four hits while leaving the bases loaded during the inning to claw back even at 7-7. Small ball was the name of the game for Northwest in the inning to advance runners around the bases and drive in runs. Six different Northwest hitters drove in runs.

The Bearcats added another two runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead, 9-7. Northwest scored two runs on three hits and left two on base during the top half of the inning.

Southwest Baptist attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth, scoring a run but wasn’t enough to take the lead away from Northwest.

Junior Quintin Van Ackeren got the start on the mound for the Bearcats, pitching three and 2/3 innings allowing eight hits and seven runs (six earned) while striking out two. Freshman pitcher Max Ross came in for relief, pitching three and a third scoreless inning and allowing only two hits as he picked up the victory. Senior Trevor Dudar closed the game for Northwest, allowing two hits and one earned run, as he tallied his second save of the season.

Game 2
After a quiet first two innings, Northwest was first on the scoreboard scoring one run in the top of the third. Junior infielder Calvin Rudolph led off the inning reaching on a fielding error. Rudolph was then advanced to third by Gastner, who singled to right field. Rudolph scored on a Rycraft sacrifice fly to right.

After holding Southwest Baptist scoreless in the bottom of the third, Northwest added another three runs to increase its lead to 4-0.

Southwest Baptist combined to score seven runs in the home half of the fourth and fifth innings to take the 7-4 lead over Northwest.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth, head coach Darin Loe inserted pinch hitter Enrique Gonzales. Gonzalez delivered as he crushed a grand slam to left field that gave Northwest an 8-7 advantage.

Freshman righty Gibson Brown came on in relief of starter Joe Funkhouser in the fifth. Brown pitched four innings of relief and allowed four hits and two earned runs. Brown got the victory to improve to 2-0 on the year.

Dudar came into the game in the ninth and locked down his second save of the day. Dudar struck out two as he retired the SBU batters in order in the ninth.

Northwest will be back in action Friday at Dodson Field for game three of this MIAA matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

EDMOND, Oklahoma – The No. 8-ranked Central Oklahoma softball squad tallied a doubleheader sweep of the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats on Thursday.

UCO won game one, 17-3, in five innings. The Bronchos scored a 7-1 triumph in game two.

Game One
Central Oklahoma got up early on the Bearcats scoring 17 runs in the first three innings.

Erin Keeney hit a double in the top of the fifth to bring in three runs, but it wasn’t enough for the Bearcats as they fell, 17-3.

Game Two
Northwest was the first to put a run on the board this time. Kaitlyn Weis recorded RBI in the first to take the lead, 1-0.

Central Oklahoma answered with two in the second and did not look back.

The Bronchos went on to win game two, 7-1.

— Northwest Athletics —