Northwest Missouri State Bearcats men's basketball

Last updated
Northwest Missouri State Bearcats men's basketball
Northwest Missouri State Bearcats wordmark.svg
UniversityNorthwest Missouri State University
First season1914
All-time record1,651–1,010 (.620)
Head coach Matt Keeley (1st season)
Conference The MIAA
Location Maryville, Missouri
Arena Bearcat Arena
(capacity: 2,500)
Nickname Bearcats
ColorsBearcat green and white [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
NCAA tournament champions
2017, 2019, 2021, 2022
Other NCAA tournament results
Final Four2017, 2019, 2021, 2022
Elite Eight2002, 2004, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022
Sweet Sixteen2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024
Appearances1982, 1984, 1989, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference tournament champions
1989, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference regular-season champions
1925, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1939, 1945, 1986, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats men's basketball team represents Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, in the NCAA Division II men's basketball competition. The team is currently coached by Matt Keeley, who has been at the helm since 2024. [2] The Bearcats currently compete, and are one of two founding members remaining, of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). [3] The basketball team plays its home games in the Bearcat Arena on campus. [4]

Contents

National championship games

The men's team in its first national championship appearance in 1932 lost to Henry's Clothiers in the Amateur Athletic Union title game at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri 15–14 in a last second shot. The Bearcat team was coached by Hank Iba. The featured Bearcat players included Jack McCracken and Wilbur Stalcup. [5] At the time both corporate-sponsored teams and colleges competed in the same tournament.

The Bearcats played Fairmont State University in the national championship game on March 25, 2017, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, winning 71–61. [6]

The Bearcats won their second national championship when they played Point Loma Nazarene University in the national championship game on March 30, 2019, in Evansville, Indiana, winning 64-58.

Northwest was ranked #1 in 2020 going into the NCAA Division II men's tournament to defend its title but the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. [7]

The Bearcats won their third national championship when they played West Texas A&M in the national championship game on March 27, 2021, in Evansville, Indiana, winning 80-54.

Bearcat Arena

Bearcat Arena has a seating capacity of 2,500. The facility also houses the university's commencement ceremonies, as well professional concerts. Bearcat Arena, formerly known as Lamkin Gymnasium, was built in 1959 and underwent a $6 million renovation during the 1993–94 academic year with additions. The south side received a new face which included a fitness center and coaches' offices on the second floor. [8]

Year-by-year results

Northwest Missouri State men's basketball — year-by-year record
Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Carl Hanson (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1914–1915)
1914–15Carl Hanson 6–2
Carl Hanson:6–2
George Palfreyman (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1915–1918)
1915–16George Palfreyman 7–5
1916–17George Palfreyman 6–2
1917–18George Palfreyman 6–3
George Palfreyman:19–10
M. H. Sims (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1918–1919)
1918–19M. H. Sims 6–4
M. H. Sims:6–4
Robert Rice (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1919–1921)
1919–20Robert Rice 2–7
1920–21Robert Rice 3–4
Robert Rice:5–11
Russell Sprong (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1921–1922)
1921–22Russell Sprong 0–15
Russell Sprong:0–15
Eugene Maynor (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1922–1923)
1922–23Eugene Maynor 7–7
Eugene Maynor:7–7
H. Frank Lawrence (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1923–1929)
1923–24H. Frank Lawrence 5–5
1924–25H. Frank Lawrence 9–8
1925–26H. Frank Lawrence 12–7
1926–27H. Frank Lawrence 11–7
1927–28H. Frank Lawrence 12–7
1928–29H. Frank Lawrence 13–8
H. Frank Lawrence:62–42
Henry Iba (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1929–1933)
1929–30Henry Iba 31–0
1930–31Henry Iba 31–6
1931–32Henry Iba 20–2
1932–33Henry Iba 12–7
Henry Iba:94–15
Wilbur Stalcup (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1933–1943)
1933–34Wilbur Stalcup 8–6
1934–35Wilbur Stalcup 10–8
1935–36Wilbur Stalcup 11–7
1936–37Wilbur Stalcup 13–4
1937–38Wilbur Stalcup 15–6
1938–39Wilbur Stalcup 11–7
1939–40Wilbur Stalcup 20–1
1940–41Wilbur Stalcup 18–5
1941–42Wilbur Stalcup 14–6
1942–43Wilbur Stalcup 18–7
Wilbur Stalcup:138–57
Ryland Milner (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1943–1951)
1943–44Ryland Milner 5–8
1944–45Ryland Milner 10–6
1945–46Ryland Milner 12–3
1946–47Ryland Milner 8–8
1947–48Ryland Milner 4–14
1948–49Ryland Milner 13–12
1949–50Ryland Milner 15–9
1950–51Ryland Milner 11–11
Ryland Milner:78–71
H. D. Peterson (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1951–1953)
1951–52H. D. Peterson 9–10
1952–53H. D. Peterson 7–13
H. D. Peterson:16–23
Dale Kessinger (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1953–1955)
1953–54Dale Kessinger 8–12
1954–55Dale Kessinger 10–10
Dale Kessinger:18–22
Robert Gregory (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1955–1959)
1955–56Robert Gregory 5–15
1956–57Robert Gregory 8–13
1957–58Robert Gregory 4–16
1958–59Robert Gregory 10–10
Robert Gregory:27–54
Marion Moss (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1959–1964)
1959–60Marion Moss 15–8
1960–61Marion Moss 14–6
1961–62Marion Moss 7–14
1962–63Marion Moss 12–11
1963–64Marion Moss 5–18
Marion Moss:53–57
Dick Buckridge (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1964–1972)
1964–65Dick Buckridge 2–20
1965–66Dick Buckridge 10–13
1966–67Dick Buckridge 7–16
1967–68Dick Buckridge 8–13
1968–69Dick Buckridge 11–11
1969–70Dick Buckridge 17–8
1970–71Dick Buckridge 14–10
1971–72Dick Buckridge 8–18
Dick Buckridge:77–109
Bob Iglehart (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1972–1977)
1972–73Bob Iglehart 12–13
1973–74Bob Iglehart 12–13
1974–75Bob Iglehart 6–18
1975–76Bob Iglehart 7–17
1976–77Bob Iglehart 11–16
Larry Holley:48–77
Larry Holley (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1977–1980)
1977–78Larry Holley 11–15
1978–79Larry Holley 15–11
1979–80Larry Holley 16–11
Larry Holley:42–37
Lionel Sinn (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1980–1989)
1980–81Lionel Sinn 13–14
1981–82Lionel Sinn 20–10NCAA Division II 1st Round
1982–83Lionel Sinn 17–11
1983–84Lionel Sinn 24–7NCAA Division II 1st Round
1984–85Lionel Sinn 17–10
1985–86Lionel Sinn 18–10
1986–87Lionel Sinn 19–10
1987–88Lionel Sinn 20–8
1988–89Lionel Sinn 21–9NCAA Division II 1st Round
Lionel Sinn:169–89
Steve Tappmeyer (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(1989–2009)
1989–90Steve Tappmeyer 14–13
1990–91Steve Tappmeyer 12–15
1991–92Steve Tappmeyer 16–12
1992–93Steve Tappmeyer 14–13
1993–94Steve Tappmeyer 18–10
1994–95Steve Tappmeyer 13–14
1995–96Steve Tappmeyer 19–7
1996–97Steve Tappmeyer 11–16
1997–98Steve Tappmeyer 23–7NCAA Division II 1st Round
1998–99Steve Tappmeyer 19–10
1999–2000Steve Tappmeyer 22–8NCAA Division II 1st Round
2000–01Steve Tappmeyer 25–6NCAA Division II 1st Round
2001–02Steve Tappmeyer 29–3NCAA Division II Elite 8
2002–03Steve Tappmeyer 22–9NCAA Division II 1st Round
2003–04Steve Tappmeyer 29–5NCAA Division II Elite 8
2004–05Steve Tappmeyer 19–119–9
2005–06Steve Tappmeyer 22–1010–6NCAA Division II 1st Round
2006–07Steve Tappmeyer 24–715–3NCAA Division II 1st Round
2007–08Steve Tappmeyer 24–812–6NCAA Division II 1st Round
2008–09Steve Tappmeyer 12–157–13
Steve Tappmeyer:387–199
Ben McCollum (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(2009–2024)
2009–10Ben McCollum 12–157–13
2010–11Ben McCollum 10–168–14
2011–12Ben McCollum 22–715–5NCAA Division II 1st Round
2012–13Ben McCollum 21–1011–7
2013–14Ben McCollum 24–916–3NCAA Division II Sweet 16
2014–15Ben McCollum 25–715–4NCAA Division II Sweet 16
2015–16Ben McCollum 27–619–3NCAA Division II Sweet 16
2016–17Ben McCollum 35–118–1NCAA Division II National Champion
2017–18Ben McCollum 27–416–3NCAA Division II 1st Round
2018–19Ben McCollum 38–019–0NCAA Division II National Champion
2019–20Ben McCollum 31–118–1
2020–21Ben McCollum 28–221–1NCAA Division II National Champion
2021–22Ben McCollum 34–518–4NCAA Division II National Champion
2022–23Ben McCollum 31–320–2NCAA Division II 2nd Round
2023–24Ben McCollum 29–520–2NCAA Division II Sweet 16
Ben McCollum:394–91241–63
Matt Keeley (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(2024–present)
2024–25Matt Keeley 4–182–11
Matt Keeley:4–182–11
Total:1,651–1,010

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Athletics Graphic Standards (PDF). February 8, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  2. "Northwest Missouri State University – Men's Basketball Coaching Staff". Bearcatsports.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  3. "Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Conference History". Themiaa.com. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  4. "Northwest Missouri State University – Bearcat Arena". Bearcatsports.com. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  5. Henry Clothiers – hoopedia.nba.com – Retrieved September 12, 2009
  6. MIAA Scoreboard (2017-03-25). "Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – NWMSU Claims Men's Basketball National Title". Themiaa.com. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  7. "Division II tournament, MIAA spring sports canceled due to coronavirus".
  8. "Northwest Missouri State University – Bearcat Arena". Bearcatsports.com. Retrieved 2016-08-22.