LIBERTY, Mo. - The William Jewell men's basketball team led for only 7% of Saturday's non-conference game with Northwest Missouri State but it was the most important 7%, as they rallied from down 12 to win 74-65. The Cardinals defeated the Bearcats for the first time since 1992 and improve to 5-6 overall as they close the 2025 calendar year. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jewell started slow, falling behind 20-8 in the early going but three straight buckets from Justice Sutton sparked the Cardinal offense who eventually tied the game at 33-all on a triple from Sutton with just over four minutes to go in the first half. The Bearcats outscored Jewell 7-3 over the rest of the half, to lead 40-36 at the break. 
• Northwest Missouri State got a three from Royce Williams to expand their lead lead to seven just after the first media timeout, but the Cardinals went on 6-0 run, capped by a layup from Kyle Scharbrough, to get back within one. Jewell stayed within one possession for the next eight-plus minutes. Ashton Jermain's triple knotted things up at 59. 
• Tied at 65-all moments later, the Cardinals got a basket from Justice Sutton followed by a big triple from 25 feet to give the Cardinals a five point advantage with just 66 seconds to play. A Jermain steal and a slam at the other end from Scharbrough put a bow on the 74-65 win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Sutton led all scorers with a career high 24 points to go with a team best eight rebounds. 
• Lightbourne added 13 points with Scharbrough chipped in 11 along with three steals. 
• Jewell forced 17 turnovers for to 23 points with PJ Moore leading the way with four steals off the bench. 
• The Cardinals shot 42% from the floor while holding Northwest Missouri State to 36%.

UP NEXT
Jewell is off for the winter break and return to action on January 2 as they travel to Missouri S&T in the return to Great Lakes Valley Conference play.