WARRENSBURG, Mo. — The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball squad overcame a 12-point second-half deficit and used a game-winning shot from Royce Williams with :02 left to score an 80-79 road win over Central Missouri.
Northwest snapped a five-game losing skid and improved to 10-11 overall and 3-7 in MIAA play. Central Missouri fell to 13-6 overall and 7-3 in league action.
Northwest Missouri State opened the game with a quick strike, as Royce Williams hit a 3-pointer at 19:17 to take an early lead. The team managed to maintain pace with Central Missouri, with Larenz Walters contributing five points from free throws and a late 3-pointer to keep the game close. Despite shooting 36.7 percent from the field compared to Central Missouri’s 44.8 percent, the Bearcats stayed competitive, using fast breaks to score 11 points. The half concluded with Northwest trailing 39–31.
Northwest surged ahead with a key 3-pointer from Aiden Gair at 17:04, narrowing the deficit and setting the stage for a back-and-forth battle. Gair’s long-range shot was part of a larger run that saw the visitors take their first lead of the half at 12:01 with another Gair 3-pointer, making it 52-49. Despite the Mules’ attempts to regain control, including a stretch where they edged ahead 66-54, Northwest responded with key baskets and relentless pressure.
The half’s closing moments were tense, as the Bearcats clawed back from a narrow margin. Trey Moala sank two free throws to close the UCM lead to one. Williams capitalized on a late turnover with a jumper at 0:02, sealing an 80-79 victory. The visitors outscored Central 49-40 in the half, clinching the win.
Presley Ibeh led the team with 17 points, converting 7 of 11 field goal attempts. Gair contributed 16 points and added four assists. Williams also scored 16 points while collecting five rebounds. Jack Ratigan made an impact defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Northwest will play host to Missouri Western on Saturday, Jan. 31. The game is set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.
Central Missouri improved to 14-5 overall and 8-2 in MIAA play. It marked the third time this season UCM shot 50 percent or better from the field. Northwest dropped to 10-10 overall and 3-7 in MIAA action. The Bearcats put up 38 points in the paint but made only a trio of three-pointers. It is the fourth time this season Northwest has surrendered 70 or more points.
Northwest Missouri State opened the quarter with a strong inside presence, as Boston Wand scored early with a layup assisted by Kirsten Hauck at 9:11. Despite their efforts in the paint, tying Central Missouri in points inside, the Bearcats faced scoring challenges from beyond the arc, missing their lone attempt. The visitors briefly held the lead, but the Jennies countered with a late scoring surge, capitalizing on turnovers and second-chance points to finish the quarter ahead 24–14.
Northwest began the second quarter with a strong offensive push, highlighted by Hauck’s fast-break 3-pointer at 8:54, which narrowed the deficit. Bailey Birmingham, the MIAA’s top three-point field-goal shooter, contributed a jumper shortly after, keeping the team’s momentum alive with a single triple against the Jennies. As the quarter continued, the Bearcats maintained pressure in the paint, with Maggie Collins and Sadie Maas both scoring critical layups to keep the game within reach. Despite Central Missouri’s late 3-pointer, the Bearcats outscored the home team 13–12 in the quarter, concluding the half trailing 36–27.
Northwest started the third quarter with a solid defensive effort, highlighted by Maas’s block at 9:04. This block was one of two by Maas in the game, bringing her season total to 42, which ranks as the 10th-best single-season total in Bearcat history. Despite this, the Jennies maintained their offensive momentum, increasing their lead with efficient shooting. The Bearcats responded with a series of successful plays in the paint, including layups from Ella Moody and Hauck, but struggled to close the gap as the Mules continued to capitalize on their opportunities. The quarter ended with Central Mo. leading 65–47.
In the fourth quarter, Northwest Mo. St. maintained pressure with Birmingham leading a defensive charge, recording two steals and converting them into layups, including a fast-break at 6:37. Maas added to the momentum with an early tip-in following an offensive rebound at 9:29. Despite this effort, the Bearcats were unable to close the gap significantly as the Jennies held a steady advantage throughout. The quarter ended with both teams scoring 12 points each, and Central Mo. secured the victory with a final score of 77–59.
Birmingham led the team with 13 points, converting six of her 12 field goal attempts and adding two steals. Maas contributed a solid performance with 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Hauck added 11 points, making four of eight shots and securing one steal. Collins finished with six points, connecting on three of her four field goal attempts.
Northwest Missouri State is set to play host to Missouri Western Saturday, Jan. 31. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Bearcat Arena.
