Central Oklahoma 57
Northwest 72

Bearcat Numbers
Points
NW: Victor James - 18
CO : Deshone Henderson - 19

Rebounds
NW: Byron Jackson - 8
CO: Jamaal Ramey - 7

Assists
NW: Kelvin Parker - 5
CO: Kentrell Gaddis - 4

Steals
NW: Kelvin Parker - 2
CO : Jamaal Ramey - 3

LAS VEGAS , Nevada -- No. 4 Northwest Missouri State picked up a 72-57 victory over Central Oklahoma Saturday afternoon at the High Desert Classic on the campus of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Northwest was paced by Victor James (Fr., Crowley, Texas), who came off the bench to tally a career-high 18 points. Kelvin Parker (Sr., Raytown, Mo.) added 17, while Sky Wilson (Jr., Indio, Calif.) scored 14. Byron Jackson (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

Northwest fell behind 5-0 early. But the Bearcats battled back, taking a 9-8 lead on two Parker free throws. The game was tied four times and saw five lead changes over the courseof a six-minute stretch midway through the first half. Northwest emerged from the see-saw action with a 23-20 lead at the 6:03 mark.

A Jesse Shaw (Jr., Lincoln, Neb.) three-pointer, coupled with a bucket from Jackson left Northwest with an eight-point lead, 30-22 late in the first half. The Bearcats took a 35-30 lead into the locker room.

The Bearcats outscored Central Oklahoma 8-2 over the first two minutes of the second half, taking a 43-32 lead on an Austin Meyer (Soph., Blue Springs, Mo.) layup. Dhafir Abduallah hit a three-pointer for UCO to get the Bronchos back within single digits, 43-35. But a Parker jumper pushed the lead back to 10, 45-35 with five minutes gone in the second half.

Central Oklahoma never got closer than 10 again. Northwest pushed its advantage to as many as 20 points late in the ballgame, before cruising to the 15-point win.