Game #21

#1 Northwest Missouri State(18-1, 8-1 MIAA) at Newman Jets (8-12, 2-9 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 30 • 7:30 P.M. Wichita, Kan. • Fugate Gymnasium
Series Record: Series tied 0-0 Last Meeting:
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
Up Next: Missouri Western • Saturday, Feb. 1 • 3:30 P.M. • Wichita, Kan.

LAST TIME OUT

In the first half, Washburn (11-7, 6-3) would start the game on a 9-0 run to gain the early advantage.  A jumper by David Javorsky would stop the Ichabods run.  For most of the first half, Newman trailed until 1:04 left when Juwan Davenport made a jumper to tie the game at 32.  Washburn would make a basket with 29 seconds left to take a 34-32 lead going into halftime.  With the Ichabods holding a 1 point lead 47-46, Washburn would go on a 12-2 run to gain a 11 point advantage with 8:46 left in the half.  A three point basket by Allen Wilson would cut the deficit back to single digits at 8 points, 59-51.  Washburn would respond with another 12-4 run to go up by 16 points with 3:54 left to play.  Washburn would gain their largest lead of the day at 18 points with a 3 point basket by Tyler Geiman with just over a minute left to play.

THE COACHES
RJ Allen is in his third season as the head coach and ninth on the staff for the Jets. Allen is 8-12 in his third season at Newman. Allen has led Newman to a 36-25 overall record and a 21-11 Heartland Conference record over his first two seasons. Allen won Heartland Conference Coach of the Year honors in the 2017-18 season, he was the first coach to win the award in their first season. Prior to Newman, Allen spent 5 season as an assistant coach at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn.

Ben McCollum enters his 11^th season as the Bearcats head coach. Over the past three seasons, McCollum has guided Northwest to a mark of 100-5 and two NCAA Division II national championships (2017, 2019).  McCollum led the Bearcats to a perfect 38-0 record and the NCAA Division II national championship. Northwest became only the fifth program to complete an undefeated season and capture the NCAA Division II national title. McCollum was named the NABC Division II national coach of the year.  McCollum has guided the Bearcats to six straight MIAA regular season titles and four consecutive MIAA tournament crowns. In 10 seasons at Northwest, McCollum has an overall record of 241-75.

ABOUT THE JETS
The Jets are 8-12 on the season, 2-9 in the MIAA. Newman is led in scoring by senior forward, Marshawn Blackmon at 16.7 points per game. Blackmon also leads the Jets in rebounding as he is averaging just under 10 per game at 9.6.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri State is 18-1 on the season, 8-1 in the MIAA. The Bearcats are led in scoring by junior forward, Ryan Hawkins at 22.2 points per game. Hawkins also leads the Bearcats in rebounding at 7.0 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the first meeting between NU and NWMSU.

UP NEXT
The Jets will return to action as they host Missouri Western on Saturday February 1^st at 3:30 P.M. for another MIAA Conference matchup.

LISTEN, WATCH & FOLLOW LIVE
Video streams for all of Newman's regular season contests are available on a pay per view basis on the MIAA Network. Events are available live and are immediately archived for on-demand viewing at the conclusion of the event at www.themiaanetwork.com/newman and on the MIAA Network apps for Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku. Listen along to all of the Newman Jets games on The Jets Audio Network with Blake Cripps on the call at newmanjets.com/listen. You can now find all things Newman in the Newman Jets Athletics app available in both the App Store and on Google Play. For all of your Newman Jets Athletics apparel needs visit nujetsgear.com!