Bearcats punch their ticket

Top seeded Northwest Missouri pulled out a 55-52 win in a low-scoring game over second seed Southwest Minnesota State to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

mbball vs Southwest Minnesota State during the Central Regional Championships at Bearcat Arena March. 14, 2017. (Photo by Todd Weddle | Northwest Missouri State University)

The Bearcats won the battle at the line shooting .750 from the charity strip while allowing the SWMSU just one make in four attempts. Bearcat Justin Pitts led the way scoring 25 points while dishing out a game high five assists. The Bearcats advance to the Elite Eight, March 22-23 and 25, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD. Northwest will await the reseeding on the final eight teams to learn their opponent and game time for the March 22 game.