(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The 12th-ranked Mules went cold in the second half, making just nine shots, as they fell to Northwest Missouri 72-58 on Saturday afternoon at home.

The Bearcats led 35-34 at halftime but clamped down on the Mules in the second half and out-scored them 37-24 in the frame.

The Bearcats (4-2, 2-0 MIAA) jumped out to a 4-0 lead only to see the Mules (7-1, 1-1 MIAA) score seven straight points to grab their first and only lead of the game. Brad Woodson‘s three-pointer at the 14:39 mark gave UCM a 7-4 advantage, but two free throws from D’Vante Mosby and a layup from Anthony Woods ignited a 7-0 run for Northwest Missouri and the Bearcats never trailed again.

The Mules fought back to within one several times throughout the first half, but the Bearcats seemed to have an answer every time. A three by Conner Crooker gave NWMSU a 20-16 lead midway through the frame. The lead grew to six, but D’Marnier Cunningham made two foul shots and Marquiez Lawrence scored on a layup to pull UCM within 24-22 at the 6:42 mark.

The lead grew to seven at 31-24 with four and half to play before intermission, but Cunningham scored on a layup and three-pointers from Spencer Reaves and Woodson cut the lead to one at 35-34 at halftime.

Northwest Missouri got off to a great start in the second half, scoring eight of the first 10 points to build a seven-point lead with 16:59 to play. The Mules pulled back to within five at 45-40 with 14:22 to play, but a 10-2 run gave the Bearcats a 55-42 lead with 9:41 to play in the game.

The lead grew to 14 before the Mules tried to forge a rally. Roosevelt Scott made a pair of free throws and then picked up a steal and a layup to make it 60-50 with 4:45 to play, but the Bearcats had another answer. Chris-Ebou Ndow made two free throws and Crooker hit back-to-back threes to make it an 18 point lead and effectively ice the game.

Cunningham led UCM in scoring with 18 points, while Scott had 13 and Lawrence finished with a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds to go with four blocks. The Mules shot 40 percent for the game, but just 32 percent in the second half. UCM was 4-of-11 from beyond the arc, but did not make a three in the second half going 0-for-6.

UCM was out-rebounded in the contest 45-29, leading to 18 second-chance points for the Bearcats.

The Bearcats were led in scoring by Crooker’s 25 points. Justin Pitts and Woods both finished with 12 points each as NWMSU shot 40 percent from the field and made 9-of-25 three-pointers for 36 percent. The Bearcats were 17-of-23 at the foul line for 73 percent compared to 10-of-15 for 67 percent by the Mules.

The Mules are back in action Saturday, Dec. 12, at Emporia State. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. at White Auditorium.