PittsexitsgameasBearcatsfallbysinglepointtoMules

BrandonZenner
EditorinChief
@brandonZenner

JustminutesintothesecondhalfinthebiggestroadgameoftheBearcats
season,theleadingscorerandballhandlerforNorthwestwentdownwithanankle
injury.With16pointsinthebag,freshmanguardJustinPittsreturnedtothegame
andimmediatelybegantolimp.Northwestwasunabletofindanoffensiveanswer
therestofthewayandtheBearcatswouldultimatelyfalltoNo.25CentralMissouri,
6661.
Theyonlyscored66pointsathome.Thatsprettygood,andouroffense
wasinept,McCollumsaid.Justinisaprettygoodplayer.Theydidnthavealotof
answersforhim,butitdidchangeouroffense.
TheBearcatsweremismatchedinthepostfromthestartthegame,falling
behind94early.NorthwestheadcoachBenMcCollumcalledatimeout,whichthe
Bearcatsfollowedupwitha90run.
SeniorforwardGrantCozadandfreshmanBrettDoughertystruggledto
protectthepaintandpickeduptwoandthreefoulsrespectivelyinthefirsthalf.
Weplannedprettywellforit.Weweregoingtogotothelowsidedouble
andthatskindawhatwewenttotheretowardstheend,Cozadsaid.Itseemedto
workprettywellandslowthemdowninthepaint,butnotenough.
Ontheoffensiveend,thecombinationofPittsCrookerWallaceSchenider
movedtheballefficientlyaroundthearcandhadeverypointfortheBearcatsinthe
firsthalf.TheBearcatsmanagedfiveassistson17makes,includingfive
threepointers.
Weusuallyplayreallywelltogether.Weallknowourrolesprettywell,
seniorguardMattWallacesaid.Wetrytogetinthepaintandgetittoourshooters
ItworkedearlyandthenJustingothurtandthathurtalittlebit.
TheMulesmadeitapointtogettheballintothepostthroughoutthefirst
half.CentralMissourifinishedthefirsthalfwith28pointsinthepaintandfourpoints
fromthecharitystripe.TheMulesfirstpointfromoutsideofpaintcamewith1:49
remaininginthehalfonathreepointer.
CentralMissourifinishedthehalfshootingbetterthan62percentfromthe
field,butmanagedonly15frombehindthearc.TheBearcatstooka3635lead
intothelockerroomathalftime.
Afterexchangingbucketsinthefirstfewminutesofthesecondhalf,Pitts
wentdownandtheBearcatswereunabletofindarealgrooveonoffensebetween
foultroubleandfailedexecution.TheBearcatsmadeonlyninebucketsinthe
secondhalfandfinishedthegameshootingjustunder43percent,including620
fromthreepointrangeaftergoing512inthefirsthalf.

Ithinkwefeltlikewecouldwinthatgame,Cozadsaid.Weneedtolearn
fromthatasmeandMattmoveforwardandtakethissituationandlearnfromit.
CentralMissourifinishedthegamewith48pointsinthepaintand15points
fromthecharitystripe.
Iwasprettydisappointedtonight.Iwasmostlydisappointedatthefactthat
weletonemistaketurnintotwoprettyconsistentlythroughoutandIthoughtthat
wasthedifferenceinthegame,McCollumsaid.
Northwestfallsto134and63intheMIAAwiththeloss.