Men's Basketball | 3/16/2014 10:37:48 PM

Kansas City, Mo. – Northwest Missouri held off a second half charge by regional host Minnnesota State-Mankato to win 71-66 and earn a slot in the regional championship. NWMSU hit 25 free throws and got 23 points from their bench as they set up an All-MIAA championship game in the NCAA Division II Central Regional.

For the Bearcats DeShaun Cooper led the way with 25 points and four assists. Zach Schneider hit four three-pointers and pulled down three rebounds on hits way to 13 points. Dillon Starzl added nine points and five rebounds while Bryston Williams had a team-high six boards.

Northwest Missouri will face off with Central Missouri at 7 p.m. on March 18 from Mankato, Minn. On the line will be a berth in the Elite Eight which begins on March 26 in Evansville, Ind.