Northwest Missouri State got 26 points and 10 rebounds from Hunter Henry and stopped Central Missouri’s seven-game win streak with a 61-57 victory Wednesday night at Bearcat Arena. The Bearcats improved to 12-2 at home against the Mules dating back to 1998.
It was the lowest scoring output of the season for No. 19 Central Missouri (12-3, 5-3 MIAA), which hadn’t been held to less than 70 points all season. The Mules shot 33 percent from the field, including a 9-of-30 clip from 3-point range.
The Bearcats (7-8, 2-6) meanwhile pounded the paint with Henry and Elijah Allen, who combined for 40 points and 15 rebounds on 13-of-20 shooting. Henry made both 3-pointers he took. Northwest was 3-of-4 from behind the arc.
The Bearcats took a 30-21 lead into the break. Edriss Floyd knocked down a 3, then beat the defense for a layup to give the Bearcats a 44-30 lead with 14 minutes remaining.
A jumper by Northwest guard DaJuan Harris made it 51-37 at the 10:50 mark, but it would be the Bearcats’ only bucket for more than eight minutes.
Nathan Frazier and Joe Young knocked down 3’s for Central and the Mules got within five, 54-49, with less than five minutes to play. Young led the Mules with 18 points, but was 6-of-19 from the field and 5-of-13 from behind the arc.
It was 58-52 with less than a minute left when Northwest was charged with a 10-second violation. The shot clock showed 26 seconds when the whistle was blown and when Northwest crossed half court, but the official ruled the shot clock didn’t start on time back when the ball was inbounded and the Mules were awarded possession.
De’Andre Byrd hit a three and after Larsen made 1-of-2 free throws, Josiah Miller’s layup made it 59-57 with 29 seconds left.
Larsen missed two free throws, but stuffed Young in the paint on the defensive end and pulled down the rebound before being fouled. His two free throws with five seconds left sealed the win.
Larsen had seven assists, two steals and two blocks for the Bearcats. Henry scored 16 of Northwest’s 31 second-half points and recorded his fourth consecutive double-double in the process. He’s averaged 21.5 points and 11.8 rebounds in his last four games.
Story courtesy of Northwest Missouri State athletics
