Northwest Missouri State Bearcats men's basketball

Northwest Missouri State Bearcats men's basketball
Northwest Missouri State Bearcats men's basketball
University	Northwest Missouri State University
First season	1914
All-time record	1,647–992 (.624)
Head coach	Matt Keeley (1st season)
Conference	The MIAA
Location	Maryville, Missouri
Arena	Bearcat Arena ; (capacity: 2,500)
Nickname	Bearcats
Colors	Bearcat green and white;
Uniforms
Home	Away ;
NCAA tournament champions
	2017, 2019, 2021, 2022
NCAA tournament Final Four
	2017, 2019, 2021, 2022
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
	2002, 2004, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
	2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024
NCAA tournament round of 32
	2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
NCAA tournament appearances
	1982, 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

Last updated November 26, 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]

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

Statistics overview
Northwest Missouri State men's basketball — year-by-year record
Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Carl Hanson (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1914–1915)
1914–15	Carl Hanson	6–2
Carl Hanson:		6–2
George Palfreyman (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1915–1918)
1915–16	George Palfreyman	7–5
1916–17	George Palfreyman	6–2
1917–18	George Palfreyman	6–3
George Palfreyman:		19–10
M. H. Sims (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1918–1919)
1918–19	M. H. Sims	6–4
M. H. Sims:		6–4
Robert Rice (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1919–1921)
1919–20	Robert Rice	2–7
1920–21	Robert Rice	3–4
Robert Rice:		5–11
Russell Sprong (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1921–1922)
1921–22	Russell Sprong	0–15
Russell Sprong:		0–15
Eugene Maynor (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1922–1923)
1922–23	Eugene Maynor	7–7
Eugene Maynor:		7–7
H. Frank Lawrence (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1923–1929)
1923–24	H. Frank Lawrence	5–5
1924–25	H. Frank Lawrence	9–8
1925–26	H. Frank Lawrence	12–7
1926–27	H. Frank Lawrence	11–7
1927–28	H. Frank Lawrence	12–7
1928–29	H. Frank Lawrence	13–8
H. Frank Lawrence:		62–42
Henry Iba (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1929–1933)
1929–30	Henry Iba	31–0
1930–31	Henry Iba	31–6
1931–32	Henry Iba	20–2
1932–33	Henry Iba	12–7
Henry Iba:		94–15
Wilbur Stalcup (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1933–1943)
1933–34	Wilbur Stalcup	8–6
1934–35	Wilbur Stalcup	10–8
1935–36	Wilbur Stalcup	11–7
1936–37	Wilbur Stalcup	13–4
1937–38	Wilbur Stalcup	15–6
1938–39	Wilbur Stalcup	11–7
1939–40	Wilbur Stalcup	20–1
1940–41	Wilbur Stalcup	18–5
1941–42	Wilbur Stalcup	14–6
1942–43	Wilbur Stalcup	18–7
Wilbur Stalcup:		138–57
Ryland Milner (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1943–1951)
1943–44	Ryland Milner	5–8
1944–45	Ryland Milner	10–6
1945–46	Ryland Milner	12–3
1946–47	Ryland Milner	8–8
1947–48	Ryland Milner	4–14
1948–49	Ryland Milner	13–12
1949–50	Ryland Milner	15–9
1950–51	Ryland Milner	11–11
Ryland Milner:		78–71
H. D. Peterson (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1951–1953)
1951–52	H. D. Peterson	9–10
1952–53	H. D. Peterson	7–13
H. D. Peterson:		16–23
Dale Kessinger (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1953–1955)
1953–54	Dale Kessinger	8–12
1954–55	Dale Kessinger	10–10
Dale Kessinger:		18–22
Robert Gregory (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1955–1959)
1955–56	Robert Gregory	5–15
1956–57	Robert Gregory	8–13
1957–58	Robert Gregory	4–16
1958–59	Robert Gregory	10–10
Robert Gregory:		27–54
Marion Moss (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1959–1964)
1959–60	Marion Moss	15–8
1960–61	Marion Moss	14–6
1961–62	Marion Moss	7–14
1962–63	Marion Moss	12–11
1963–64	Marion Moss	5–18
Marion Moss:		53–57
Dick Buckridge (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1964–1972)
1964–65	Dick Buckridge	2–20
1965–66	Dick Buckridge	10–13
1966–67	Dick Buckridge	7–16
1967–68	Dick Buckridge	8–13
1968–69	Dick Buckridge	11–11
1969–70	Dick Buckridge	17–8
1970–71	Dick Buckridge	14–10
1971–72	Dick Buckridge	8–18
Dick Buckridge:		77–109
Bob Iglehart (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1972–1977)
1972–73	Bob Iglehart	12–13
1973–74	Bob Iglehart	12–13
1974–75	Bob Iglehart	6–18
1975–76	Bob Iglehart	7–17
1976–77	Bob Iglehart	11–16
Larry Holley:		48–77
Larry Holley (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1977–1980)
1977–78	Larry Holley	11–15
1978–79	Larry Holley	15–11
1979–80	Larry Holley	16–11
Larry Holley:		42–37
Lionel Sinn (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1980–1989)
1980–81	Lionel Sinn	13–14
1981–82	Lionel Sinn	20–10			NCAA Division II 1st Round
1982–83	Lionel Sinn	17–11
1983–84	Lionel Sinn	24–7			NCAA Division II 1st Round
1984–85	Lionel Sinn	17–10
1985–86	Lionel Sinn	18–10
1986–87	Lionel Sinn	19–10
1987–88	Lionel Sinn	20–8
1988–89	Lionel Sinn	21–9			NCAA Division II 1st Round
Lionel Sinn:		169–89
Steve Tappmeyer (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(1989–2009)
1989–90	Steve Tappmeyer	14–13
1990–91	Steve Tappmeyer	12–15
1991–92	Steve Tappmeyer	16–12
1992–93	Steve Tappmeyer	14–13
1993–94	Steve Tappmeyer	18–10
1994–95	Steve Tappmeyer	13–14
1995–96	Steve Tappmeyer	19–7
1996–97	Steve Tappmeyer	11–16
1997–98	Steve Tappmeyer	23–7			NCAA Division II 1st Round
1998–99	Steve Tappmeyer	19–10
1999–2000	Steve Tappmeyer	22–8			NCAA Division II 1st Round
2000–01	Steve Tappmeyer	25–6			NCAA Division II 1st Round
2001–02	Steve Tappmeyer	29–3			NCAA Division II Elite 8
2002–03	Steve Tappmeyer	22–9			NCAA Division II 1st Round
2003–04	Steve Tappmeyer	29–5			NCAA Division II Elite 8
2004–05	Steve Tappmeyer	19–11	9–9
2005–06	Steve Tappmeyer	22–10	10–6		NCAA Division II 1st Round
2006–07	Steve Tappmeyer	24–7	15–3		NCAA Division II 1st Round
2007–08	Steve Tappmeyer	24–8	12–6		NCAA Division II 1st Round
2008–09	Steve Tappmeyer	12–15	7–13
Steve Tappmeyer:		387–199
Ben McCollum (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(2009–2024)
2009–10	Ben McCollum	12–15	7–13
2010–11	Ben McCollum	10–16	8–14
2011–12	Ben McCollum	22–7	15–5		NCAA Division II 1st Round
2012–13	Ben McCollum	21–10	11–7
2013–14	Ben McCollum	24–9	16–3		NCAA Division II Sweet 16
2014–15	Ben McCollum	25–7	15–4		NCAA Division II Sweet 16
2015–16	Ben McCollum	27–6	19–3		NCAA Division II Sweet 16
2016–17	Ben McCollum	35–1	18–1		NCAA Division II National Champion
2017–18	Ben McCollum	27–4	16–3		NCAA Division II 1st Round
2018–19	Ben McCollum	38–0	19–0		NCAA Division II National Champion
2019–20	Ben McCollum	31–1	18–1
2020–21	Ben McCollum	28–2	21–1		NCAA Division II National Champion
2021–22	Ben McCollum	34–5	18–4		NCAA Division II National Champion
2022–23	Ben McCollum	31–3	20–2		NCAA Division II 2nd Round
2023–24	Ben McCollum	29–5	20–2		NCAA Division II Sweet 16
Ben McCollum:		394–91	241–63
Matt Keeley (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(2024–present)
2024–25	Matt Keeley	0–0	0–0
Matt Keeley:		0–0	0–0
Total:		1,647–992
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

Notable players

Related Research Articles

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Its fourteen member institutions, of which all but one are public schools, are located in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The MIAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Missouri.

Bobby Gene Bartow was an American men's college basketball coach. The Browning, Missouri, native coached 36 years at six universities after coaching two high schools in Missouri for six years. In 1972 Bartow coached the Puerto Rico national basketball team in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

The Emporia State Hornets are the athletic teams that represent Emporia State University (ESU). The women's basketball and softball teams use the name Lady Hornets. The university's athletic program fields 15 varsity teams in 11 sports all of whom have combined to win 50 conference championships as well as three national championships. Corky the Hornet serves as the mascot representing the teams, and the school colors are black and gold. Emporia State participates in the NCAA Division II and has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1991.

The Lindenwood Lions and Lady Lions are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Lindenwood University, located in St. Charles, Missouri, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division I ranks, primarily competing in the Ohio Valley Conference for most of its sports since the 2022–23 academic year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football</span> American college football program

The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football program represents Northwest Missouri State University in college football. They participate in Division II sports within the NCAA. The team plays their home games at Bearcat Stadium, located on campus in Maryville, Missouri.

The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats are the athletic teams for Northwest Missouri State University, located in Maryville, Missouri. The Bearcats play in the NCAA Division II. Northwest is a founding member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 1912 and has remained in the conference ever since. From their founding until 1937, they competed in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). From 1937 to 1957, they competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics before joining NCAA Division II. Northwest has appeared in ten Division II football title games since 1998. The men's basketball team appeared in an AAU title game in 1930, and won the Division II title in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022.

The Central Missouri Mules basketball team represents the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri, in the NCAA Division II men's basketball competition. The team is currently coached by Doug Karleskint, who replaced Kim Anderson after his departure to become head coach at the University of Missouri. The Mules currently compete and are one of two founding members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The basketball team plays its home games in the Multipurpose Building on campus.

The Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represents Emporia State University and competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) of the NCAA Division II. On April 28, 2023, Brian Ostermann was announced as the eighth head coach.

The Emporia State Hornets basketball team represents Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, in the NCAA Division II men's basketball competition. The team is coached by Tom Billeter, who is in his first season as head coach. The Hornets compete in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

The 2013 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football team represented Northwest Missouri State University as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) during the 2013 NCAA Division II football season. Led by third-year head coach Adam Dorrel, the team finished the regular season with an undefeated 11–0 record. They won their fifth NCAA Division II Football Championship with a win over Lenoir–Rhyne in the NCAA Division II Championship Game by a score of 43–28. The Bearcats played their home games at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville, Missouri, which has been the Bearcats' home stadium since 1917.

The 2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season was contested by twelve United States collegiate athletic programs that compete in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) under the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for the 2015 college football season. The season began on Thursday, September 3, 2015.

The Washburn Ichabods men's basketball team represents Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, in the NCAA Division II men's basketball competition. The team is currently coached by Brett Ballard, who is in his eigth year at the helm. Ballard replaced Bob Chipman, who retired after the 2016–17 season. The Ichabods currently compete in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The basketball team plays its home games in Lee Arena on campus.

The 2016 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football team represented Northwest Missouri State University as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) during the 2016 NCAA Division II football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Adam Dorrel, the Bearcats compiled an overall record of 15–0 with a mark of 11–0 in conference play, winning the MIAA title. They won the program's sixth NCAA Division II Football Championship with a win over North Alabama in the NCAA Division II Championship Game.

The 2016–17 Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represented Emporia State University in the 2016–17 NCAA Division II women's basketball season, which was the 43rd Lady Hornets basketball season. The Lady Hornets were led by 7th-year head coach, Jory Collins. The team played their home games on Slaymaker Court at William L. White Auditorium in Emporia, Kansas, the home court since 1974. Emporia State was a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

The 2018–19 Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represented Emporia State University in the 2018–19 NCAA Division II women's basketball season, which was the 45th Lady Hornets basketball season. The Lady Hornets were led by first-year head coach Toby Wynn. The team played their home games on Slaymaker Court William L. White Auditorium in Emporia, Kansas, the home court since 1974. Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

Justin James Pitts is an American basketball player who last played for HLA Alicante of the Spanish LEB Oro. He played college basketball for the Northwest Missouri State University. A 5’10” point guard, Pitts was named the NABC Division II Player of the Year for the 2016–17 season.

David Slifer is an American college women's basketball coach at the University of Central Missouri. During his 14 seasons at Central Missouri, Slifer has led the Jennies to one national championship, four conference regular season championships and eight NCAA tournament appearances. Prior to his current post, Slifer was the head coach for Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association-rival Missouri Western from 1995 to 2004, and was the head coach at his alma mater Mount Mercy University from 1989 to 1995.

Trevor Hudgins is an American professional basketball player for Le Mans of the LNB Élite and the Basketball Champions League (BCL). He played college basketball for the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats where he led the team to three consecutive NCAA Division II championships. Hudgins was named as the NABC Division II Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022 and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Player of the Year from 2020 to 2022, making him one of the most decorated players in NCAA Division II history.

The 2009 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football team was an American football team that won the 2009 NCAA Division II national championship.

Ryan Hawkins is an American professional basketball player for Stade Rochelais Basket of the Pro A. He played college basketball for the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats and the Creighton Bluejays.

References

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

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[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.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]