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Feb. 28, 2019Game | Basketball

Northwest 72, Washburn 49

(Photo courtesy Northwest Athletics)

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Northwest Missouri State men's basketball completed just its second unbeaten regular season in program history with a 72-49 win over Washburn Thursday evening.

The Bearcats (29-0, 19-0 MIAA) only other unbeaten regular season came during the 1929-30 campaign as Henry Iba guided the team to a 31-0 record and MIAA title.

The perfect mark in conference games is also the first time it's happened since 1967 when Missouri State went 10-0 in the MIAA.

After a difficult battle with Missouri Western Tuesday, Northwest didn't waste anytime taking control of Thursday's game.

Washburn took a 2-0 lead on a Tyas Martin layup just over a minute into the game. Ryan Hawkins rattled off the next seven points in a row to give the Bearcats a lead that they wouldn't give back.

Ryan Welty knocked down a three-pointer at the 12:03 mark in the first half to cap a 14-2 run.

Northwest led by nine points at the break, and the lead ballooned to 29 points before all was said and done.

Joey Witthus paced the 'Cats with 19 points, including 9-10 from the free throw line.

Hawkins finished the night with 18 points and nine rebounds. Ryan Welty bounced back from a tough night Tuesday by knocking down 4-6 three-pointers and finished with 14 points and six rebounds.

Next up for Northwest is the MIAA Tournament. The Bearcats will play Thursday, March 7 at noon at Municipal Auditorium. They will face the winner of the 8-9 matchup in the opening round.