ST. CHARLES, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team defended its No. 1 national ranking on Thursday with a 72-41 victory over the Lindenwood Lions at Hyland Arena.Northwest (22-0 overall, 12-0 MIAA) used hot shooting (58.1 percent) and stifling defense by limiting Lindenwood to 30.2 percent from the floor. Lindenwood falls to 11-13 overall and 4-8 in the MIAA.Northwest scored the game's first seven points and never trailed. The Bearcats shot a sizzling 60 percent from the field in the first half on 15-of-25 shooting.Seniorscored a game-high 18 points. Witthus was 7-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. Redshirt freshmantallied 17 points and handed out three assists.The Bearcats will be back in action Saturday at Lincoln. Tip is set for 3 p.m. in Jefferson City, Missouri.NOTES: Northwest extended the nation's longest win streak to 22 in a row … the Bearcats have won 17 consecutive MIAA games as well … Northwest won for the 11straight time on the road … the Bearcats are 74-7 in their last 81 MIAA games … sophomorecollected his team-leading ninth double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds … Hawkins, the MIAA leader in steals added two more to give him 54 on the season … Hudgins was 4-for-4 at the free throw line and has now connected on 25 consecutive free throws.