Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The 12th-ranked NW Missouri State men's basketball team shot 53 percent from the field and made 10 three pointers to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 90-60, Saturday afternoon in Maryville, Mo.
 
Despite the proximity between the two campuses, this was the first-ever meeting between the Bearcats (8-0, 2-0) and Lopers (2-5, 0-2) in men's basketball.
 
Leading from start to finish, Northwest got out to a 23-6 lead by the 11:41 mark. Finishing the first half shooting nearly 60% (19 of 32), the 'Cats led 47-26 at the break.
 
UNK was just 8 of 24 (33%) from the field in the opening half. The Lopers did warm up in the second half, making 48% of its shots, but committed 14 turnovers that led to 20 Northwest points.
 
The Bearcats also had a plus 10 rebounding margin on the day, 37-27, and turned the ball over only six times.
 
Ten different Northwest players scored, led by 6-8 freshman reserve post Grant Cozad with 17. He also had six rebounds (four offensive) in 19 minutes of work.
 
Next, junior guard DeAngelo Hailey went 4 of 6 from behind the arc to tally 14 with reserve guard Tyler Funk (12) and starting guard Alex Sullivan (11) also reaching double digits. Finally, Bellevue East grad Matt Wallace didn't get into the scoring column but he did have 12 assists.
 
For UNK, senior forward Drew Sankey (Lincoln East) had a team-high 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting with junior forward Mike Dentlinger (Omaha) at 12 points and five rebounds.

Off the bench, Arizona freshman guard Sami Bzai made three of UNK's four threes to end with 13 points.
 
UNK is at Doane College December 17th and then hosts Hastings College the next night.