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News Brief

March 11, 2024MARYVILLE, Mo.

Bearcat men's basketball punches ticket to 11th straight NCAA Tournament

Northwest Missouri State received the MIAA's automatic bid after winning the MIAA Tournament.

Northwest Missouri State received the MIAA's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

 

Northwest Missouri State men's basketball is NCAA Tournament bound for the 11th consecutive year.

The Bearcats head to Mankato, MN this weekend for the NCAA Central Region Tournament.

Northwest, at 27-4 on the year, go in as the No. 2 seed the top seed and host of the event, Minnesota State. The Bearcats draw No. 7 seed Southwest Minnesota State in the first round Saturday at 2:30pm.

Southwest Minnesota gave Northwest their first loss in the second game of the year in Hillyard Classic in St. Joseph.

Overall, it is the 24th all-time appearance in the NCAA tournament for the four-time national champion Bearcats and the 11th straight year they have qualified for the tournament.

Northwest enters the big dance by way of the MIAA's automatic bid. They won their 12th conference tournament championship Sunday over Pittsburg State at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

Bearcat forward Daniel Abreu was named the tournament Most Outstanding Player after posting his ninth straight double-figure scoring game with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals in the championship game.

"It's all about just playing your role," Abreu said after Sunday's victory while holding onto his MIAA Tournament MOP trophy. "When Ryan Hawkins and Trevor were still in the program, your role is to help in practice, make them better. Now, as they've moved on, it's time for us to also step up. Now is just the time to take over and, kind of like with Isaiah (Jackson) being (MIAA) defensive player of the year and this blessing right here, so it's time for us to step up."

The Bearcats will appear in a regional hosted by Minnesota State for the first time since 2014. Northwest reached the region championship, but lost 60-59 in overtime to Central Missouri.

The full schedule of games for the NCAA Central Region Tournament:

Saturday, March 16
No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth (25-6) vs. No. 6 Fort Hays State (23-7), 12 p.m.
No. 2 Northwest Missouri State (27-4) vs. No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State (19-12), 2:30 p.m.
No. 1 Minnesota State (29-2) vs. No. 8 Arkansas Tech (25-6), 5 p.m.
No. 4 MSU Moorhead (24-5) vs. No. 5 Pittsburg State (21-10), 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 17
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5 p.m.
Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19
Central Region Championship, 7 p.m.