Bearcats capture second straight MIAA Tournament title
By DAVID MERRILL/DAILY FORUM
Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball played and coaches hold up the MIAA Tournament Champions banner after beating Central Missouri 69-61. Justin Pitts was named the MIAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player for the second year in a row.
KANSAS CITY —For the first nine minutes of the 69-61 win over Central Missouri, Northwest Missouri State looked as if it would be playing in its third instant classic in four days.
Northwest found its rhythm, however, and captured its second consecutive Mid America Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament Championship.
The game was not as close as the final score indicated.
Justin Pitts, who finished with 26 points and broke the career MIAA tournament scoring record, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for the second year in a row.
Like a true point guard, he gave everyone else the credit.
“It always feels good to end with a championship,” he said. “I have to give the credit to my teammates and coaches for having the confidence in me to go make plays for the team. I couldn’t do it without them.”
Pitts scored 80 points this tournament, which gave him a career MIAA tournament total of 189.
Zach Schneider converted a 4-point play with just less than 11 minutes left in the half and it helped open the door and give the Bearcats some breathing room with a 22-17 lead.
Northwest coach Ben McCollum said he could feel the momentum swing.
“We started to find a little niche,” he said. “They had trouble with ball screens and trouble guarding Justin (Pitts), and trouble defending him. It got us excited, and got us re-energized. I didn’t feel like we came out with a lot of energy.
Schneider finished the game 2-for-11, but the damage was done.
By the time the 6 minute, 17-minute mark came around, the Bearcats held a 31-23 lead.
Northwest allowed just three points after the 6:17 mark in the first half and opened up a 40-28 lead going to the second half.
Northwest led 45-30 with 17:59 left and 59-36 with 13 minutes left after a Welty 3-pointer. Welty, a freshman from Park Hill, played 38 minutes on Sunday, which marked his season-high.
He used those minutes to garner nine points.
Schneider said Welty came up big.
“He stepped up when [Chris-Ebou Ndow] and (Anthony Woods) got in foul trouble. He played great all around, and get hit some big shots. We have confidence in everyone. It’s just adding a little more depth.”
After the 13-minute point in the second half, Central Missouri slowly, but surely whittled down the Northwest lead the rest of the second half.
The Mules cut the Bearcat lead to 10 with 1:12 left.
“Give a lot of credit to Central Missouri,” he said. “I thought they battled throughout this tournament, and throughout the season. They finished second in a tough league. They had a good game plan coming in. We were fortunate to hit a few shots and get our rhythm going.”
Central Missouri coach Doug Karleskint said he was proud of his team for its effort, but it just wasn’t the Mules night.
“We were picked to finish ninth this year, but we finished second,” he said. “There were plenty of times when we could have folded, but the character and class of these guys was incredible. We wanted Northwest, the best possible team that we could play.”
Pitts, Mosby, and Ndow all made the All-MIAA Tournament team along with Missouri Southern’s CJ Carr, and Reaves.
Northwest will likely get a No. 1 seed in the regional tournament, which would mark the first time Maryville has hosted a regional.
SCORING SUMMARY
NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE (30-1): Pitts 26, Welty 9, Dougherty 9, Woods 8, Ndow 7, Schneider 7, Mosby 3. TOTALS: 35 7-10 69. 3 PT GOALS: 8 (Welty 3, Pitts 2, Schneider 2, Ndow). CENTRAL MISSOURI (21-9): Reaves 15, Wolf 12, Lawrence 11, Rice 8, Richardson 8, Smith 5, Lowrance 2. TOTALS: 26 18-22 61. 3 PT GOALS: 5 (Wolf 2, Reaves 2, Wolf). REBOUNDS: NWMSU 31 (Welty 10, Dougherty 7); UCM 25 (Lawrence 9) STEALS: NWMSU 4 (Ndow 2); UCM 4 (Wolf, Richardson, Reaves, Smith) BLOCKS: NWMSU 1 (Dougherty); UCM 2 (Rice, Woodson) ASSISTS: NWMSU 10 (Mosby 3); UCM 6 (Reaves 2, Smith 2) TURNOVERS: NWMSU 8; UCM 10 FOULS (Foul out): NWMSU 18 (none); UCM 15 (none).
DAVID MERRILL/DAILY FORUM
Northwest Missouri State’s D’Vante Mosby and Anthony Woods (20) hold up the MIAA Tournament Championship trophy after beating Central Missouri 69-61 on Sunday. It marked the Bearcats’ second straight MIAA Tournament title.
By DAVID MERRILL/DAILY FORUM
Northwest Missouri State University’s Chris-Ebou Ndow holds up a piece of the net after scoring seven points and grabbing four rebounds in the Bearcats’ 69-61 victory over Central Missouri on Sunday. The win gave the Bearcats their second straight MIAA Tournament title.
By DAVID MERRILL/DAILY FORUM
Northwest Missouri State University’s Justin Pitts shoots a floater in the lane over Central Missouri’s Spencer Reaves. Pitts scored 26 points and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
