Maryville, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist Bearcats took on the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Saturday afternoon. The #1 ranked team in the nation defeated SBU by a score of 84-61. SBU moves to 12-12 (6-9 MIAA).
 
The game started with two Northwest free throws after an SBU foul on their first possession. On SBU's first possession, Karim Mouliom threw down a slam dunk to even the score at 2. Layups by Chris Rossow and Godfrey Rolle went on to give SBU a 6-4 lead early in the first. Rolle then hit another shot, extending their lead to 4. Northwest responded quickly, taking a 10-8 lead, but Quinn Nelson made a three, taking over again 11-10. The Northwest Missouri Bearcats also made a three and a couple of layups.
 
Godfrey Rolle and Karim Mouliom scored a couple of baskets to even the score at 15 with 9:41 remaining in the half. The home team responded with back to back three pointers. With 6:15 to go, Northwest extended their lead to 9 before Adnan Jahic made two free throws, bringing SBU back within 7. Northwest went on a run to end the half, but Karim Mouliom made a three with 33 seconds before the half, making the score 26-40 in favor of Northwest.
 
Karim Mouliom got things going in the second half, scoring a layup just 18 seconds in. Chris Rossow and Maris Colton each scored early on as well, but Northwest had a response to everything. Godfrey Rolle scored a basket for SBU with 13:18 remaining in the game, but the Bearcats trailed 34-60. Northwest kept pushing their lead, taking a 31 point lead with 10:29 to go.
 
Karim Mouliom then made a couple free throws followed by a Chris Rossow jumper. After a Northwest bucket, Mouliom and Rossow scored again, both making three pointers. With under 5 minutes to go, Chris Rossow hit another three, followed by a Maris Colton layup, another Chris Rossow score, and another Maris Colton layup with an assist from Rossow, bring the Bearcats within 22. The Bearcats were unable to stun the #1 team in the nation, falling 84-61 on the road.
 
Karim Mouliom led the way for SBU, scoring 18 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, while collecting 3 blocks and a steal. Chris Rossow scored 16 points and 6 rebounds, and Godfrey Rolle scored 14 points.
 
SBU returns home for their final two home games, taking on Missouri Western on Thursday, February 21 at 7:30 PM.