St. Joseph Post
The Missouri Western men's basketball team (8-7) suffered its sixth straight loss Tuesday, falling to No. 3 Northwest Missouri State, 79-56, at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
The Bearcats (15-1) have won 10 straight games this season and now 18 straight against the Griffons.
Northwest head coach Ben McCollum is now 24-2 all time against MWSU.
Missouri Western played the game without their head coach, Will Martin, and assistant coach Tim Peete. Martin announced before the game Tuesday that he tested positive for COVID-19. He and Peete will miss the next three games for the Griffons.
Assistant Ty Danielson took over the head coaching duties Tuesday and will do so until Martin returns. Danielson was assisted on the bench by graduate assistant Weston Smith, women's head coach Candi Whitaker and women's GA Tori Schickel.
Missouri Western got off to a slow start offensively, missing their first seven shots and falling behind 7-0. The Griffons rallied and were down only 14-8 midway through the first half, but Northwest then went on an 11-2 run and eventually led 34-16 at the half.
Missouri Western shot just 21.4% (6-28) in the first half, including 1-of-11 from beyond the arc.
They'd finish the game shooting just 34.5% (19-55) overall and 33.3% (7-21) from three.
The Griffons got off to a better start in the second half, making five of their first six shots and going on a 13-4 run to pull within nine, 38-29, but that's as close as it'd get the rest of the night.
The Bearcats made 11 of their first 16 shots in the second half and would lead by as many as 27 points.
Northwest shot 57.7% (15-of-26 FGs) in the second half, including 4-of-8 from three-point land.
Senior forward Ryan Hawkins put up a monster game for the Bearcats with 34 points and 13 rebounds.
Caleb Bennett and Q Mays led Missouri Western with 10 points each, while Tyrell Carroll added nine and Will Eames chipped in eight points and five rebounds.
The Griffons continue their five-game home stand on Thursday as they entertain Missouri Southern at 7:30 p.m. at the Fieldhouse after the women's game at 5:30.
Both games will air on KFEQ (680 AM, 95.3 FM).
Northwest, meanwhile, returns home to face Pittsburg State Thursday. The women tip at 5:30 followed by the men at 7:30 p.m.