Jan. 19, 2008
Bearcats Now 4-0 Against Ranked Teams
PITTSBURG, Kan. - No. 20 Northwest Missouri State defeated No. 16 Pittsburg State 62-46 Saturday, winning by its largest margin since 1988 at John Lance Arena. The Bearcats (11-4, 3-3 MIAA) improved to 4-0 against ranked opponents and 7-0 in games played outside of Maryville this season.
Northwest led 31-23 at the half and limited the Gorillas (11-4, 2-4) to seven field goals in the final 20 minutes to pull even in the league standings at 3-3. A 20-4 run, spanning eight minutes of the second half, put the game away. The Bearcats never trailed in the contest.
Pittsburg State’s leading scorer Cory Abercrombie was held to one field goal and seven points in the contest. Spencer Magana was the only Gorilla to reach double figures. He knocked down two 3’s in the final minutes and finished with 11 points.
Hunter Henry registered his 13th career double-double to lead the Bearcats, finishing with 11 points and 12 boards. Matt Withers’ 12 first-half points led four Northwest players in double figures. Mose Howard and Lance Sullivan had 10 points each.
Northwest beat Pittsburg State at their own game – rebounding.
The Gorillas entered as the top-ranked rebounding team in the league, but were outhustled and outmuscled on the boards Saturday. The Bearcats outrebounded PSU by 10 and got 12 points off 13 offensive rebounds. Pittsburg State had enjoyed a plus-eight rebounding margin entering the game.
Withers scored the first and last points of a 9-2 run to start the game for Northwest. He added three buckets as part of an 8-2 rally to close the first half. He finished 6 of 12 from the floor and had four rebounds.
Howard didn’t take a shot in the first half, but drilled a 3 to get the Bearcats going in the second. Sullivan and Howard hit back-to-back treys and Sullivan added another moments later as part of the 20-4 run. When it was over, Northwest led 57-34 with less than seven minutes to play.
Pittsburg State fueled the rally by going 6 of 14 from the free-throw line in the second half. The Gorillas shot a season-low 34 percent from the field for the game (16 of 47).
Up Next: Northwest travels to Kirksville, Mo., Wednesday to take on Truman at 7:30 p.m.
Individual Notes
- Withers has double-digit points for the second straight game and seventh time this season.
- Lance Sullivan recorded five rebounds by half, two short of his career high. He ended the game by matching his career-high with seven.
- Hunter Henry recorded his 3rd double-double this season with 12 rebounds and 11 points and 13th in the career.
- Henry recorded a season-high 12 rebounds.
- Mose Howard scored 10 points, reaching double-digit scoring for the second straight game and eighth time this season.
- Mike Larsen recorded a season-high five assists, the most since recording a career-high eight at Emporia State Jan. 24, 2007.
Team Notes
- The 31-23 advantage at half was the first time Northwest has lead at halftime at John Lance Arena since Jan. 17, 2004 (Northwest won 72-70).
- First time the Northwest men and women have swept the Gorillas at John Lance Arena since Jan. 17, 2004.
- The 21-point victory was the largest margin of victory for Northwest at Pittsburg State since Nov. 30, 1988 (82-58 victory).
 |
|
 |