EVANSVILLE, Indiana – The No. 2-seeded Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team sped past No. 7-seeded West Liberty University with a 98-77 victory in the Elite Eight in the Ford Center.
Northwest (26-2 overall) reached the national semifinals for the third time in program history behind five double-figure scorers.
Senior Ryan Hawkins led the way with 32 points on 11-of-14 shooting, including 6-of-8 from three-point range. Junior Trevor Hudgins posted 23 points and five assists on the day he was named the NABC NCAA Division II national player of the year.
Junior Diego Bernard chipped in with 14 points and missed only one shot from the field. Bernard also collected five rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Luke Waters tallied 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting to go along with five rebounds.
The Bearcats were relentless and popped the ‘Toppers with a 14-4 spurt to open up a 35-21 cushion with 4:34 to play in the half. Northwest continued to pour in shots in the first half and it did not end until sophomore Wes Dreamer cashed in a three-pointer to give the Bearcats a 51-32 advantage at the break.
Northwest continued to attack the West Liberty press and that resulted in layups for the Bearcats as the second half got underway. Northwest took its largest lead of the game at 74-44 on a Hawkins three-pointer with 14:19 to play in the game. West Liberty cut the margin below 20 when Northwest failed to score in the game’s final three minutes. Northwest ended West Liberty’s season with a 98-77 decision.
The Bearcats shot 62% for the game (34-of-55). Northwest scored 50 of its points in the paint – the result of the full-court pressure leading to layup after layup.
Northwest advances to the national semifinals to take on the winner of the No. 3-seeded Flagler vs. No. 6-seeded Thursday at 8:45 p.m. in the Ford Center.
NOTES: Northwest has won 41 consecutive games on neutral floors … Northwest improves to 95-3 over the past three seasons … Northwest is 157-8 in the last five seasons … Northwest is 3-2 in national quarterfinal games … Northwest is 32-20 all-time in NCAA Tournament play … head coach Ben McCollum is 21-5 in NCAA Tournament play … McCollum moved to 298-78 in 12 seasons as a head coach … McCollum is 33-3 as a coach in the month of March … Northwest has won 15 of its last 16 NCAA Tournament games … Northwest’s 26 wins are tops among all NCAA Division II teams this season … Northwest has shot 60% or better in eight games this season … Hawkins posted his 13th career 30-point scoring game … it was Hawkins’ 42nd career 20-point scoring contest … Hudgins notched his 51st career 20-point scoring game … Hudgins leads the nation with 86 made three-pointers … Hawkins ranks No. 2 in the nation with 81 made three-pointers … Northwest is 54-0 when scoring 90 or more points under McCollum … Northwest has scored 90 or more points seven times this season.
