Press Release
December 12, 2004
Bearcats Pick up 93-69 Home Win vs. Clarke (Iowa
MARYVILLE, Mo. - Northwest Missouri State men's basketball used a 50-29 run over the final 18:13 and picked up its 40th straight non-conference home win this afternoon with a 93-69 victory against Clarke (Iowa) College. Junior Austin Meyer tied a Northwest single-game record with eight three's - he totaled a game-high 24 points.Northwest, who has won its last 12 overall in Bearcat Arena, improves to 8-1 on the season. Clarke, who entered the game on its best start in school history, drops to 6-2.
The 'Cats used a 12-of-16 shooting effort in the first 11:25 to take charge with a 31-11 lead in the early going. At one stretch, the hosts scored 13 straight points. Six treys were connected on during that opening run with Meyer totaling four.
With 7:19 showing on the clock in the first half, Clarke began to creep back. Ignited by a free throw from Hirman Byrd, the Crusaders went on a 22-12 spurt to come within nine at the half. The score stood 43-34 in favor of Northwest at the half.
The guests rattled off the second half's first six points to bring the count to 40-43 at the 18:13 mark. However, from there the 'Cats used good defense and transition scoring to go on their game-ending scoring run and blow the game out. In the second half, Clarke shot just 32 percent (8-of-25) and Northwest got out in the open court and had six lay-ups.
Overall, Northwest shot a season-high 60.3 percent (35-of-58) from the field, including 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from beyond the arc. For the second time on the year, Northwest was out-scored from the free throw line (22-8).
Clarke finished 39.2 percent (20-of-51) from the field and just 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from three-point land.
Meyer, who tied teammate Joel Osborn's three-point mark done earlier this season, missed just two from beyond the arc (8-of-10) and four shots overall (8-of-12). Senior Sky Wilson tallied his fourth 10-plus point effort of the year with 14 on the night. Senior Byron Jackson went for a season-high 13 points and career-high five assists while sophomore Victor James came off the bench and threw in a season-best 10 points and added five rebounds.
Clarke was led in scoring by Byrd with 17 points on five-of-nine shooting. Chris Kolle chipped in 15 points and three assists but shot just four-of-14 from the floor.
The 'Cats take a week off before appearing at the Hoop-N-Surf Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii for games on Dec. 19-20. Northwest takes on Mars Hill (N.C.) at 4 p.m. CST on Sunday and St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.) at 6 p.m. CST on Monday.
For more information, please contact:
Phillip Dowden, Media Relations/Sports Information
sid@nwmissouri.edu | 660.562.1118 | Fax: 660.562.1582
Northwest Athletics
Lamkin Activity Center | 800 University Drive | Maryville, MO 64468
