This website is best viewed in a browser that supports web standards.

Skip to content or, if you would rather, Skip to navigation.

Listen Live
Donate
MARYVILLE

KXCV-KRNW


Local Sports

March 7, 2019Game | Basketball

Northwest 82, Emporia State 79

(Photo courtesy Northwest Athletics)

Download .mp3

Top-seeded Northwest Missouri State men's basketball survived a scare from No. 8 seed Emporia State Thursday afternoon, but the Bearcats held on for an 82-79 win over the Hornets to advance to Saturday's semifinal round of the MIAA Tournament.

Northwest (30-0) led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but ESU wouldn't go away. The Hornets fought back to tie the game twice in the final two minutes.

Tied up at 73 apiece, the MIAA's player of the year went to work.

Joey Witthus put the Bearcats in front on a layup with 1:12 remaining, then sank four free throws in a row to keep the Bearcats in front.

Ryan Welty hit another free throw with 12 seconds to play to extend Northwest's lead to four points.

Julius Jackson sank a three-pointer with four seconds on the clock to bring the Hornets within one, but it wasn't enough. Ryan Hawkins hit two more free throws to finish the game.

Witthus led Northwest with 27 points in the win. He went just 1-5 from three-point range, but knocked down 14-18 free throws.

Trevor Hudgins finished with 26 points and four assists.

Hawkins recorded his 10th double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Northwest moves on to the semifinal round of the tournament where they will meet either Lincoln or Fort Hays State at noon Saturday at Municipal Auditorium. Pregame on KXCV 90.5 and KRNW 88.9 will begin at 11:40am, followed by the opening tip.