WICHITA, Kansas – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcat men’s basketball team topped the Newman University Jets on the road Thursday at Fugate Gymnasium, 98-69.

Northwest moves to 19-1 overall and 9-1 in MIAA play. Newman falls 8-13 overall and 2-10 in league action.

Northwest tied a season-high with 17 three-pointers in the victory. The Bearcats shot 64.7% from the field, including 65.4% from three-point range. Newman shot 58.1% from the field.

Northwest made its first seven three-point attempts and opened up a 30-19 lead less than nine minutes into the contest. Junior Ryan Hawkins made his first five shots from the floor, including a trio from three-point land. Hawkins finished with 36 points on 13-of-16 shooting from the floor. Hawkins drained 7-of-9 from three-point range. Hawkins added five steals.

The Bearcats continued to rain in three-pointers and hit on 81.3% of their first-half three-pointers by making 13-of-16 from distance. Hawkins poured in 28 first-half points as he went 10-of-12 from the field, including 6-of-7 from three-point distance. Sophomore Trevor Hudgins nearly had a double-double in the first half with nine points and assists. Hudgins would finish with 21 points and 11 assists.

Northwest buried 70% of its first-half shots (21-of-30). Newman shot 60% from the field (12-of-20) in the opening half and still trailed 59-32 at the break.

The Bearcats built their lead to 36 points in the second half and cruised to a 98-69 road triumph.

Sophomore Diego Bernard tallied 15 points and knocked in all three of his three-pointers.

Senior Ryan Welty collected a team-best six rebounds and sank three of his four three-point shots to tally nine points for the Bearcats.

Northwest will travel on Saturday to match up against the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos. Tip is set for 3:30 p.m. in Edmond, Oklahoma.