BOLIVAR, MO. . A magical season for Southwest Baptist University came to an end in the round of 32 for the NCAA Division II Tournament as the Bearcats fell to Northwest Missouri State, 83-80. SBU ends the season at 27-5.
With 2:23 left in the game, SBU's Danny Norman nailed a three-pointer to give the Bearcats a 3-point lead, 76-73, and would look like the momentum but NWMSU made 10 straight free throws in the final 1:57 for the three-point win. NWMSU made their last bucket from the floor with 4:44 to go in the game for a 73-70 lead.
SBU played without senior's Sheldon Pace and Deon Davis the last eight minutes of the game due to injuries. Pace did come in for the final 24 seconds and attempted the final 3-point shot of the game to try and tie it.
Pace led all scorers with 24 points while Jemison had 20 points and Danny Norman produced a career-high 16 points. Addae Houston had 17 points for NWMSU.
NWMSU started the game off with a 3-0 lead only to see SBU score the next seven points. NWMSU tied the game at 14 and then Austin Meyer gave them a two-point lead on a layup. SBU responded with 23-10 run in the next six minutes for an 11-point lead, 37-26. NWMSU shot back with a 12-3 run to cut the lead to two, 40-38, by the 3:06 mark. Pace converted a layup with 17 seconds left for a five-point lead only to see NWMSU's Mose Howard hit a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left as SBU took a two-point lead at the half, 47-45.
The second half brought runs by both teams as NWMSU started with a 9-4 run for a 3-point lead, 54-51. SBU fought back and tied the game at 58 with 14:38 to go in the game and put together a 9-1 run for an eight-point lead, 67-59, at the 11:18 mark. In the next 3:29 , NWMSU scored eight straight points to tie the game at 67.
SBU's Jim Grabowski broke the tie with a three-pointer with 7:03 left to play and NWMSU cut the lead to one, 70-69, on a jumper by Matt Withers at the 6:47 mark. Victor James hit the final two shots of the game for NWMSU at the 6:05 mark and 4:44 mark to put NWMSU up by three, 73-70.
The biggest difference in the game came from the free throw line as NWMSU shot 31 free throws to SBU's 10. NWMSu made 25 for 80% while SBU shot 40%. NWMSU also had 17 fouls to 33 called on SBU.
SBU finished shooting 50% from the floor and 37% from 3-point range while NWMSU shot 45% from the floor. SBU out rebounded NWMSU, 33-29.
SBU finishes their season at 27-5 as the MIAA regular season and MIAA Tournament champions and are currently ranked #6 in the nation. The 27 wins are 3rd best in the history of the program for wins in a season.
