Game #11

Newman Jets (2-8, 2-8 MIAA) at #3 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (8-1, 8-1 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 21 • 7:30 P.M. Maryville, Mo. • Bearcat Arena
Series Record: NWMSU leads series 1-0 Last Meeting: Jan. 30^th, 2020 NU 69 NWMSU 98 in Wichita, Kan.
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
Up Next: vs #8 Washburn • Thurs. Jan 28 • 7:30 P.M. • Wichita, Kan.

LAST TIME OUT
For most of the first half, the Jets and the Mules would exchange baskets with one another until the Jets would go on a 13-2 run to gain a 23-16 lead with five and a half minutes left in the opening half. Central Missouri would answer with a run of their own to take a one point lead, 24-23 lead with just under two minutes remaining. On the ensuing possession, Ian Lee would make a three point basket to give the Jets the lead before the Mules would make score a two point basket to even things up at 26 going into the intermission.  The Mules would score the first four points of the half to gain a slight advantage, 30-26. With the score 33-28 in favor of Central Missouri, the Jets would go on a 7-0 run to gain 35-33 lead. With the Jets leading by 5, 51-46, the Mules would close out the game on a 16-6 run in the final 7:13 to defeat the Jets 62-57.

THE COACHES
RJ Allen is in his fourth season as the head coach and tenth on the staff for the Jets. Allen is 2-8, 2-8 in the MIAA in his fourth season at Newman. Last season under coach Allen, the Jets went 9-19 and 3-16 in the MIAA.  Allen has led Newman to a 34-23 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 is in his eleventh season as head coach of the Northwest Missouri State Men's Basketball program in the 2020-21 season. Over the past four seasons, McCollum has guided Northwest to a mark of 131-6 and two NCAA Division II national championships (2017, 2019). Northwest's four-year stretch of 131 wins is an NCAA Division II record and ranks No. 9 among all NCAA divisions over four consecutive years.  McCollum has guided the Bearcats to seven straight MIAA regular season titles and five consecutive MIAA tournament crowns. In 11 seasons at Northwest, McCollum has an overall record of 272-76.  In 2019-20, the Bearcats posted a 31-1 record. The Bearcats also captured the MIAA regular season title and MIAA Tournament crown. The Bearcats were poised to host their fourth consecutive NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament before the NCAA decided to cancel the 2020 tournament because of COVID-19.

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 2-8 on the season, 2-8 in the MIAA.  Newman is led in scoring by Redshirt Junior guard Joel Boyce at 13.0 points per game.  Boyce also leads the Jets in rebounding at 7.1 rebounds per game. 

ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri State is 8-1 on the season, 8-1 in the MIAA. Northwest Missouri State is led in scoring by Trevor Hudgins at 20.1 points per game. Ryan Hawkins leads the Bearcats in rebounding at 7.4 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 2^nd meeting between these schools with the Bearcats leading the series 1-0 after winning last year's matchup in Wichita, Kansas 98-69.

LAST TIME VS NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE
In the first half, Newman would score first on a Kaleb Allison layup.  After that, Northwest Missouri State (19-1, 9-1) would take control of the game thanks to their three point shooting as they would shoot 13-16 (81.25%) from three in the first half.  Newman was able to keep the game close for most of the first half but Northwest Missouri State was one step ahead of the Jets as they would take a 59-32 lead going into halftime.  In the second half, Newman would play a lot better than the first half as they were only outscored by two in the final period.  Despite trailing for most of the game, Newman had one of its best shooting games all season.

UP NEXT
The Jets will return home to host #8 Washburn on Thursday, Jan. 28 with tip-off at 7:30 PM.

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 is 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 find all things Newman in the Newman Jets Athletics app available in both the App Store and on Google Play.