Box score | Season stats

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- It took overtime on the road, as the #16 SBU Bearcats used a balanced attack with six players in double figures and defeated Northwest Missouri State 92-83. Tomas Brock led SBU with 19 points while Matt Rogers recorded his sixth double-double of the season (17 points, 18 rebounds), helping SBU (15-4, 6-3 MIAA) snap a two-game slide.

Tristan Steele had 16 points, Kurt Koenig had 12, Ryan Dougherty added 11 and freshman Ivan Cropotov tied a career high with 10 points. Rogers and Brock each had five assists to lead SBU.

"We learned a lot from the Nebraska-Omaha game," said SBU head coach Jeff Guiot. "Our heart wasn't into it until it was too late and our defense was really sad. This is a tough-minded group with character and great leaders. They were disappointed in themselves after Thursday. But they really came out tonight and made changes and took it to heart."

Freshman Stephen Cotten got SBU off to a good start and scored SBU's first seven points on two jumpers and a three-pointer. Northwest led 18-13 with 11:19 left before a three by Koenig started the SBU rally. Brock gave the purple 'Cats a 19-18 on a three-pointer. The teams would stay close over the next few minutes until the SBU Bearcats would use a 16-6 run over the last six and half minutes to lead 41-31 at intermission.

SBU held their lead through the first part of the second half and extended the margin to 52-39 on a layup by Rogers with 15:32 left. NWMSU used a 13-3 run to cut the lead to 55-52 with 10:20 left before SBU increased the lead again, building their edge over the next six minutes. A three-pointer by Brock gave SBU a 71-61 cushion with 4:30 left.

Northwest clawed back and cut the SBU lead to 74-72 with 90 seconds left. NWMSU's Girod Adams missed a three for the lead but Arunas Simanavicius got the rebound and scored with six seconds left to tie the game. Brock drove the length of the floor but his last second attempt was blocked, sending the game to overtime.

SBU used free throws to score the first five points of the extra time. A conventional three-point play from Koenig gave them an eight point edge with 90 seconds left in overtime. Two free throws by Koenig in the final minute pushed the margin to nine as SBU outscored NWMSU 18-9 in overtime for the victory.

When Northwest rallied to force overtime, Guiot said his guys didn't panic. "We gathered ourselves and fought through it. We regained our composure. It's really about our effort -- physically and mentally. Our defensive effort was much better and we made them earn their baskets. They're learning to play through everything and stay balanced. We showed a lot of growth tonight."

Northwest Missouri (8-8, 3-6 MIAA) was led in scoring by DeShaun Cooper with 23 points, while Elijah Allen and Girod Adams each had 16 points.

SBU outrebounded NWMSU 45-32 but the purple 'Cats committed 25 turnovers and forced 19 from Northwest. SBU hit eight three-pointers (44%) and both teams excelled from the foul line -- SBU shooting 22 of 30 (73%) and NWMSU hitting 21 of 28 (75%).

SBU returns home for a three-game homestand beginning Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. against the Missouri Western Griffons.