MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University junior Justin Pitts was named the DII Bulletin Player of the Year and coach Ben McCollum has been announced as the Coach of the Year. Pitts was also named to the publication’s All-America first team and McCollum captured the MIAA Coach of the Year honor.

Pitts was also named the NABC and Basketball Times Player of the Year earlier this month. He averaged 20.9 points in 36 games this season. He set the Northwest career record with 1,929 points and set single season records with 754 points, 183 assists, 275 made field goals and 553 field goals attempted. He scored in double figures in 34 of the team’s 36 games. He was named the MIAA Player of the Year, the MIAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, the NCAA Central Region Most Outstanding Player and the NCAA Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player.

McCollum, who completed his eighth season at Northwest, led the Bearcats to a Northwest and a program and MIAA record 35 victories en route to the 2017 NCAA Division II national championship. He was named the MIAA Coach of the Year for the third straight season. He was also named the NABC Coach of the Year. He holds a 176-71 record and is one of just three programs nationwide to win 20 or more games in each of the past six seasons.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University softball team swept Northeastern State on Sunday in Tahlequah, Okla.

Northwest is now 16-10 on the year and 5-1 in MIAA play. The RiverHawks fall to 17-18 overall and 6-6 in conference action.
Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 5, Northeastern State 4)
– Northwest scored three in the third and two in the sixth. The RiverHawks scored one in the first, one in the fourth and two in the fifth.

– The Bearcats had five runs on 10 hits with four errors. Northeastern state had four runs on six hits with an error.

– Torri Blythe was 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a double.

– Rebecca Maher also went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

– Chantel Adams was 2-for-3 with an RBI. She drew a walk and had a double.

– Abigail Gilson went 2-for-3 with a run scored, a double and a walk.

– Karli Allen went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

– Kiana Baderdeen drove in a run.

– Kaitlin Weis was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

– Holly Posegate got the win. She pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts.

– Taylor Blackford got the start. She allowed two earned runs in 4.1 innings. She struck out two and did not issue a walk.

Game One Key Innings
– Northwest scored three in the third as Allen, Blythe and Maher all scored. The inning was helped by an error to begin the inning. Maher, Weis and Adams each had RBIs in the inning.

– In the sixth, Adams led off with a single and Gilson doubled to center. Rawie walked to load the bases. After an out, Baderdeen hit a sacrifice fly to score Gilson. Blythe then hit an RBI double to score Rawie.
Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 5, Northeastern State 2)
– Northwest scored two in the first and three in the sixth. The RiverHawks got their two runs in the fifth.

– The Bearcats had five runs on 12 hits. Northeastern
State had two runs on three hits. Neither team had an error.

– Blythe was 2-for-4.

– Maher was 1-for-4 with a run.

– Weis was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a double and an RBI. She also threw a complete game in the circle, allowing just two runs on three hits. She struck out two. She had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning.

– Adams was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

– Gilson went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

– Rawie went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

– Kailey Siemonsma got a pinch-hit RBI double.

– Baderden went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Game Two Key Innings
– Blythe led off the first with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Maher singled but Blythe was tagged out at third. Weis singled to drive in Maher and Adams followed it with a single to score Weis.

– Weis started the sixth with a double. After an out, Gilson singled to short and Rawie had a single to left to score Weis. Siemonsma pinch hit and doubled to center, scoring Gilson. Baderdeen then hit a single to center to score Rawie.

Up Next
– Northwest will play Newman University on Tuesday, March 28, in Blue Springs, Mo., starting at 1:30 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team split a double header with Central Missouri on Sunday at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

– The Bearcats lost the first game, 4-1, but rebounded to take the second game, 7-2.

– Northwest is now 16-9 on the year and 5-7 in MIAA play. No. 9 ranked Central Missouri is now 19-6 and 11-4 in conference action.
Game One Key Statistics (Central Missouri 4, Northwest 1)
– Northwest scored its run in the sixth inning. The Mules got two runs in the fourth, one in the sixth and one in the ninth.

– The Bearcats had one run on three hits with an error. Central Missouri had four runs on nine hits with an error.

– Anthony Caenepeel got the start and went 8.0 innings. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits. He struck out five and walked one.

– Ozzie Adams went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and a walk.

– Luke Hassman and Kolby Greenslade each went 1-for-4.

Game One Key Innings
– The Bearcats led off the sixth with a Fort walk. Adams then took the second pitch he saw deep to left field for an RBI double.
Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 7, Central Missouri 2)
– Northwest scored one in the first, one in the third, one in the fourth, one in the sixth and three in the seventh. The Mules scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

– The Bearcats had seven runs on 12 hits with two errors. Central Missouri had two runs on seven hits with an error.

– Adams went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

– Jay Hrdlicka went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and drove in three runs. He also drew a walk, stole a base and hit a home run.

– Hassman was 2-for-4 with a home run. He drove in a pair of runs.

– Garrett Fort was 2-for-5.

– Landon Figg and James Holler each drew walks and both came around to score runs.

– Logan Rycraft went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

– Greenslade went 1-for-4.

– Joseph Hietpas got the win, going 6.2 innings. He allowed two runs on six hits. He struck out 10 and walked just one.

– Jacob Wagner, Austin Battaglia and Nikko Pablo did not allow a run in relief.
Game Two Key Innings
– Adams had a one out single to right in the first. He made it all the way to third on a wild pitch and an error by the catcher. Hassman drove him in with a single to left.

– Rycraft singled to lead off the third and came around to score on an Adams single two batters later.

– Hassman started the fourth with a home run to left field to make it 3-0 Bearcats.

– In the sixth, Hrdlicka led off with a walk and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.

– Northwest got three in the seventh. Figg and Holler drew back to back walks and Hrdlicka drove a ball over the right field fence for a three-run homer.

Up Next
– The series concludes on Monday at 2 p.m. from Bearcat Field.

— Northwest Athletics —

By David Boyce

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A little over 3 minutes remained in the first half and Fairmont State only had 17 points. That number perfectly summed up the stifling defense Northwest Missouri State played to claim its first NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship.

“This feels amazing,” said Northwest junior Justin Pitts, who finished with 23 points. “Being here the last two years and losing hurt so we all worked hard for it. I am so happy we got it done for the seniors.”

The Bearcats led from start to finish to beat Fairmont 71-61 Saturday afternoon at the Sanford Pentagon.

“We came out with no fear, which was unbelievable,” Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. “I knew if we had any chance to beat them, you have to kind of bully the bullies. They get after it so much and make it really difficult for you. I was happy with our guys’ performance.”

Hollywood couldn’t have written a better script for Northwest. The previous two years, the Bearcats lost in the Central Regional championship game at the Sanford Pentagon.

Last year was particularly heartbreaking, falling by two points on two free throws with 5 seconds left to Augustana, which advanced to the Elite Eight and won the national title.

“It was one of those stories you try to draw up,” said senior Zach Schneider. “We lose here two years in a row. We talked about it when we got on the bus after losing to Augustana last year. Our only option was to end this season here with three wins.

“This means the world. I will be able to reflect on it more in a week. The support was unreal. We call this Bearcat Arena North.”

Add in the fact that former Northwest men’s basketball coach Steve Tappmeyer was in attendance makes the storyline even more heartwarming. Tappmeyer led Northwest to Elite Eight appearances in 2002 and 2004. McCollum was a player on the 2002 team and an assistant coach on the 2004 team. Tappmeyer also coached both Northwest assistants, Austin Meyer and Andy Peterson.

“It was a lot of fun, just awesome,” Tappmeyer said. “What a great team. It is a team that shows no bad body language. They play through calls, adversity. That doesn’t happen by accident. They have done a tremendous job.”

And finally, any good sports drama needs an audience. Northwest filled the Sanford Pentagon in green, making it a sold-out crowd of 3,250.

“It is such a special place, and it is really being done the right way,” Northwest president John Jasinski said. “We are so proud of our student-athletes, our coaches and our support system. Our support system is just the absolute best.”

Northwest finished the season 35-1, making it a year to remember for the school. In December, Northwest football team concluded its second straight 15-0 national championship season.

“First of all, I am just thrilled for our basketball team, the coaches and the players,” said Northwest athletic director Mel Tjeerdsma. “I know how much work they put into it and how they built each year.

“Our fan base, what can you say about Northwest fans. They packed this place. The intensity the whole ball game was great.”

The basketball team was nearly perfect on the season and in the championship game. The Bearcats needed to play well against a talented and gritty Fairmont team that finished the season 34-3.

Northwest started the second half in great shape with an 11-point lead and then scored four of the first five points to increase their advantage to 36-22.

The 14-point deficit forced Fairmont to play catchup the rest of the half. But whenever the Falcons cut it to single digits, Northwest had an answer.

Northwest showed its resolve when Fairmont closed to 36-28 after three straight baskets by Matt Bingaya, who finished with a game-high 24 points. The Bearcats responded with a three-pointer from junior Justin Pitts and a basket by senior Anthony Woods that made it 41-28.

It went like that the rest of the second half. When Fairmont closed to 49-41, Northwest scored the next three for a double-digit lead.

With 3:12 left in the game, Woods calmly drained two free throws that made it 64-52.

“It felt good,” said Woods, who finished with 13 points. “I was struggling early on.

“This is amazing, especially with this group of guys. We worked so hard from preseason on. We have been talking about this moment for so long. We finally did it. It is just a blessing.”

The defining blow came with 1:40 left. Junior Chris-Ebou Ndow ran the baseline, received a pass from Woods and made a reverse dunk that gave Northwest a 66-52.

“Us getting a momentum swing, a dunk or a three-pointer is huge for us and our momentum,” Ndow said.

Northwest came out and scored the first seven points of the game and played shutdown defense throughout the first half to take a 32-21 lead into halftime.

“That is what coach Mac preached to us yesterday,” Pitts said. “It is the last game. You might as well go out there and have fun and that is what we did today.”

The game started with Pitts, the national player of the year, drilling a three-pointer. Woods followed with basket and then delivered a behind-the-back pass to Brett Dougherty for a layup.

A long three-pointer by Thomas Wimbush put the Falcons on the board, but it was obvious baskets were not going to be easy.

Northwest scored the next six points to build its first double-digit lead at 13-3. The best run for Fairmont state came when it closed to 23-16 and appeared to have some momentum. The Bearcats started missing a few shots.

But the Falcons were unable to make much of a charge because of how difficult it was for them to score. They only had 17 points with 2:35 remaining in the first half.

“I think this is by far the best we have played on the defensive end,” Pitts said. “They have great players. We had to lock in and focus on defense.”

Northwest got its second double-digit lead at 28-17 on two free throws by senior D’Vante Mosby. Fairmont cut it to single digits at 30-21 on a driving basket by sophomore guard Jason Jolly. The Bearcats scored last in the first half for the 11-point lead.

The Bearcats held Fairmont to 31 percent from the field. The Falcons went just nine for 29 from the field.

“This is special,” said Ndow, who scored 17 points. “We wanted to go down swinging. If we were going to lose, we weren’t going to lose easy. We have an unbelievable group of seniors. It is only fitting they go out this way.”

— Northwest Athletics —