Justin Clark had 15 points and seven rebounds Friday as Division II Northwest Missouri State knocked off UMKC 66-62 in the season opener for both teams.
DeShaun Cooper had 10 first-half points to help the Bearcats take a 36-26 lead before he missed much of the second half with foul trouble. Cooper finished with 13 points, four steals and seven turnovers. Kyle Haake added 11 points and Jake Reinders had 10 points and nine rebounds.
Reggie Chamberlain scored 19 points and Trinity Hall had 14 for UMKC.
The Kangaroos scored the first 10 points of the second half to tie the game, but Haake hit a 3-pointer to put the Bearcats on top 41-40, then added another to spark a 7-0 run that put Northwest Missouri State ahead 52-44.
UMKC got as close as three points after a three-point play by Dustin Dibble with 29 seconds remaining.
