Making the program’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, unbeaten Missouri State (17-0-1) is set for a first-round matchup in the 2019 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament against Denver (6-11-3) as the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee announced the 48-team field on Monday afternoon.

The opening round match will mark the first time MSU has hosted an NCAA Tournament match as they face the Pioneers on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7:00 p.m.

“We are excited to definitely be playing another game, the where and when doesn’t really matter,” said head coach Jon Leamy. “The good news is we get the chance to practice again today and get ready for Thursday.”

It’s the first trip to the Field of 48 for MSU since 2009. The Bears are 0-3 in their three previous NCAA Tournament games (1997, 1999, 2009). Previous trips to the NCAA field have included opening-round matches at Saint Louis (1997, 2009), and at UAB (1999). The UAB game marked the only loss of the year for Leamy’s 1999 squad (17-1-3).

You sort of got the feeling when Jeremiah Tilmon hit a three-pointer early in the game that it was going to be a good night for him and the Tigers. Tilmon dominated inside for Mizzou with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in a 75-56 win over Wofford on Monday night at Mizzou Arena. Mark Smith led Mizzou’s offense with 19 points and four rebounds.

Tilmon also stayed out of foul trouble and its no secrent when he’s on the floor, the Tigers are better. They improved to 8-0 when Tilmon Jr. scores 16 or more points in his career.

Missouri had a five-point lead out of the break, but Wofford opened with a 10-2 run, but Tilmon threw the momentum back to Mizzou when he threw down back-to-back dunks to put the Tigers up 42-41 with 16:16 left contest. Mizzou would not surrender the lead fusing a 13-0 run over a six-minute period to put out the game out of reach.

Cuonzo Martin stresses defense and the Tigers have done that through the first four games. Mizzou has now held opponents to 63 or fewer points in four consecutive games to start the season. This marks the first time that’s been done since 1951-1952 when the Tigers did so in eight straight games.

Photo/Northwest Athletics/Todd Weddle

Central Missouri Mules Football has qualified for the 2019 NCAA Postseason. The NCAA announced this afternoon via their selection show that the Mules are the No. 4 seed in Super Region III. The fourth-seeded Mules will host No. 5 University of Indianapolis from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Saturday, Nov. 23 at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg.

The NCAA field consists of seven teams in four Super Regions. Ferris State from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) earned the No. 1 seed and receives a first round bye in Super Region III.

Lindenwood (8-3, 7-0 GLVC) was selected as the seventh team in Super Region Three, earning the final spot among the competing teams from the GLVC, GLIAC, GAC, and MIAA. The Lions will take on No. 5 Ouachita Baptist on Saturday in Arkadelphia, Ark., as the Tigers earned the second seed in the region.

Photo/Lindenwood Athletics Don Adams

The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat football team secured the program’s 24th NCAA Division II playoff bid with a berth into the 2019 field. It is the 16th straight season that Northwest will compete in the playoffs for a shot at the Division II national championship. Northwest (10-1 overall) will play host to Harding University (10-1 overall) at noon Saturday at Bearcat Stadium in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Div. II playoffs.

BRACKET

#15 Southeast Missouri (8-3, 6-1) scored 20 second-half points en route to a 26-12 win over Eastern Illinois (1-10, 1-6) Saturday afternoon at O’Brien Field. With the win, SEMO nailed down its second-straight eight-win season marking the first time in program history where the Redhawks won eight games in back-to-back years. The eight-win season is SEMO’s ninth all-time since its football program began in 1904.

The Redhawks trailed, 7-6, at halftime before taking their first lead of the game thanks to a big play on special teams. Shabari Davis returned Stone Galloway’s punt 36 yards for a touchdown to put SEMO ahead, 13-7, with 13:03 remaining in the third quarter. It was the Redhawks first punt return for a touchdown in four years.

SEMO tacked on 13 more points in the fourth quarter to finish off the Panthers.

SEMO wraps up its regular-season at home against rival Murray State on Nov. 23. A win will clinch at least a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title for the Redhawks. If SEMO wins and Austin Peay loses, the Redhawks will win the title outright.

Story courtesy SEMO Athletics

The Northwest Missouri State University football team captured a share of its 30th MIAA regular season title by taking down previously undefeated University of Central Missouri, 45-23. While their dreams of an undefeated season ended for the Mules, they also claim a share in the MIAA regular season title, their first since 2003. Both Missouri powerhouses finish at 10-1 and now turn their focus to the Division II playoffs as they await Super Regional pairings.

The Northwest defense set the tone with Northwest eight quarterback sacks, forced six turnovers and blocked a kick. On the first play of the game, Trey Washington came up with an interception on an underthrown ball by the Mules quarterback Brook Bolles. The Bearcats were able to control the game on the ground, rushing for 236 yards and four touchdowns. Northwest jumped out to a 14-0 lead and led 28-17 at the half.

Despite the teams combining for 864 yards, the third quarter was scoreless. In the fourth, the Bearcats defense helped put the game out of reach. To start the quarter, the Bearcats turned a Brook Bolles interception into another score as Parker Sampson hit a 45-yard field goal for a 14-point lead, 31-17. One play later, Bolles was picked off again, this one returned 29 yards for a Bearcat touchdown to go up 38-17. The teams traded touchdowns to round out the scoring.

The 2019 NCAA Division II playoff selection show will be shown on NCAA.com on Sunday at 4 p.m.