Men's Basketball | 3/6/2016 6:32:04 PM

Kansas City, Mo. – Northwest Missouri won their fifth MIAA Championship in men’s basketball with a 61-53 victory over Nebraska-Kearney.
 
The two teams would battle back and fourth but NWMSU would emerge in the first ten minutes with a 12-7 advantage. UNK would answer with a 7-3 run to get back in but NWMSU would carry a 32-22 advantage.
 
The two teams battled back and forth to start the second period and it remained a ten-point game as the clock ticked passed the ten minute mark. The Bearcats would withstand a late run to earn the title.
 
For the Bearcats Justin Pitts led the way with 20 points dishing out a game high five assists on his way to being named the most outstanding player in the tournament. Zach Schneider had 11 points and Chris Ndow led the way on the glass with seven rebounds.
 
For the Lopers it was Conner Beranek scoring a game high 31 points and pulling down a game high nine rebounds. Ty Danielson, who joined him on the all-tournament team finished with ten points and five boards.
 
Northwest Missouri earns the MIAA's automatic bid into the NCAA Division II National Tournament while all others teams will await the announcement of the field tonight at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
 
All-Tournament Team
Justin Pitts, Northwest Missouri (Most Outstanding Player)
Conner Crooker, Northwest Missouri  
Connor Beranek, Nebraska-Kearney
Ty Danielson, Nebraska-Kearney
Taevuann Prince, Missouri Southern
 
Notes:
Northwest Missouri has now won five MIAA Tournament Championships
This is their first since the 2008 season
NWMSU is now 34-25 in the MIAA Tournament play
Nebraska-Kearney is now 4-3 in the MIAA Tournament
This marks the 15^th time the top seed has won the MIAA Championship