Northwest Missouri State University used a 24-0 run in the first half to cruise to an 85-44 victory over the Washburn University Ichabods in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Central Region Tournament.
Northwest (24-2 overall) posted its largest margin of victory in an NCAA Tournament game at 41 – besting the previous mark of 29 in a 91-62 win over Minnesota State in 2019. The 44 points is also the fewest Northwest has allowed in an NCAA Tournament game – previous mark was 47 vs. MSU Moorhead in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
Northwest shot 55.6% from the field for the game. The Bearcats drained 11 three-pointers.
Ryan Hawkins led all scorers with 27 points. Hawkins buried a team-high seven three-pointers and was 8-of-13 from the field, including 7-of-11 from deep. Hawkins added a team-high eight rounds, five assists and two blocked shots.
Junior Trevor Hudgins scored 14 points and handed out a team-high eight assists to go along with three steals. Sophomore Wes Dreamer connected on 7-of-12 field goals for 17 points and six rebounds. Freshman Byron Alexander came off the bench to score eight points and grab five rebounds.
The Bearcats will meet the Northern State Wolves Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the 2021 NCAA Central Region Tournament final. The winner will advance to the Elite Eight set for March 24-27 in Evansville, Indiana.
