The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament with a 55-51 victory over the Mercyhurst University Lakers.
For the second time in program history, Northwest (36-0 overall) advanced to a national semifinal appearance behind a game-high 20 points from freshman Trevor Hudgins. As the closing second of the first half wound down, Hudgins had three points. However, he drove the length of the floor after a Mercyhurst bucket tied the game at 22 and sank a leaner at the buzzer to give Northwest a 24-22 lead at the break.
The game was a nailbiter. With Diego Bernard on the bench and Joey Witthus getting injured, the offense was weakened. Tyler Dougherty stepped up and swished two free throws with :11 remaining to give Northwest a seven-point cushion at 53-46. Mercyhurst's Derrick Ellis Jr. drove for a layup and then Northwest's Xavier Rhodes answered with a layup of his own before the Lakers's Ellis buried a triple at the buzzer to give Northwest the 55-51 triumph.