By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team is headed back to the NCAA tournament and aim for their fourth national title since 2017.
The Bearcats (28-5) are MIAA tournament champions for the sixth time in seven years following their 84-76 win over Washburn in the championship in Kanas City Sunday.
Junior guard Trevor Hudgins was electric, scoring 35 points in the victory on 13-of-21 shooting, including 6-of-12 from three.
"It's just a competitive game," Hudgins said. "Championship game, that's what we've worked for all year. I feel like we just showed up today."
Luke Waters scored 20 points in the win, while Hudgins, Wes Dreamer and Diego Bernard were all named to the all-MIAA tournament team.
The Bearcats earned the No. 3 seed in the Central Region and will head to Sioux Falls to to face Minnesota State-Moorhead (19-11) in the first round on Saturday at noon.
This marks Northwest’s ninth consecutive NCAA tournament under coach Ben McCollum.
"I think it's good when you win," McCollum said. "Obviously, it's exciting and it's just fun to compete for a championship and play in that kind of environment. It just makes you better."
The UCO men got in as the No. 5 seed, while Washburn is the No. 7. Augustana (24-3), the host, is the No. 1 seed. Fort Hays State (23-6) was left out.
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