Congratulating the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men’s basketball team on winning the 2022 Men’s Division II National Collegiate Athletics Association National Championship.

Congratulating the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men’s basketball team on winning the 2022 Men’s Division II National Collegiate Athletics Association National Championship.

Whereas, on March 26, 2022, the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men's basketball team (referred to in this preamble as “the Bearcats”) clinched their fourth National Collegiate Athletics Association National Championship (referred to in this preamble as “NCAA National Championship”) in 6 years in a triumphant 67–58 victory over the Augusta University Jaguars;

Whereas the Bearcats should be proud of the storied history of the Northwest Missouri State University basketball program, dating back to 1905, the year during which the University was founded;

Whereas the Bearcats should be commended for their achievements and dedication during the 2021–2022 season;

Whereas the victory of the Bearcats in the 2022 Men's Division II NCAA National Championship, which marked the third consecutive NCAA National Championship for the team, cemented the place of the Bearcats in Men's Division II NCAA National Championship basketball history as the first “three-peat”;

Whereas the Augusta University Jaguars should be commended on their efforts and success during an unprecedented season amid the coronavirus pandemic;

Whereas the city of Evansville, Indiana, and the National Collegiate Athletics Association should be commended for their efforts in providing a safe environment for the student athletes and staff during the championship tournament;

Whereas the Bearcats went 6–0 during the 2022 NCAA National Championship tournament with an average margin of victory of 14 points;

Whereas the Bearcats clinched a first round victory against Minnesota State University Moorhead with a score of 69–54;

Whereas the Bearcats clinched a second round victory against Washburn University with a score of 70–55;

Whereas the Bearcats clinched a third round victory against Augustana University with a score of 70–56;

Whereas the Bearcats clinched a quarterfinals victory against Bentley University with a score of 61–43;

Whereas the Bearcats clinched a semifinals victory against Black Hills State University with a score of 70–57;

Whereas the Bearcats claimed their third consecutive NCAA National Championship title by defeating Augusta University with a score of 67–58;

Whereas Trevor Hudgins should be commended for his role in the victory of the Bearcats by scoring a game-high 31 points;

Whereas 3 members of the Bearcats scored in the double digits and should be commended for their scoring efforts:

(1) Trevor Hudgins;

(2) Luke Waters; and

(3) Mitch Mascari;

Whereas Trevor Hudgins and Luke Waters should be celebrated for their selection to the Elite Eight National Collegiate Athletics Association All-Tournament Team;

Whereas Trevor Hudgins was awarded “Most Outstanding Player of Division II Men’s Basketball Elite Eight” and an award for a second consecutive National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Player of the Year;

Whereas Ben McCollum was selected for the Clarence “Big House” Gaines Coach of the Year award for the third time in his career and the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career;

Whereas the entire Northwest Missouri State University basketball program should be commended for their Division II record of 17 consecutive tournaments wins;

Whereas the Bearcats won their ninth consecutive Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association regular season title;

Whereas the Bearcats captured their tenth Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament championship with an 84–76 win over Washburn on March 6, 2022 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri;

Whereas the entire Bearcats roster contributed to the NCAA National Championship victory, including Daniel Abreu, Byron Alexander, Diego Bernard, Blake Danitschek, Wes Dreamer, Trevor Hudgins, Isaiah Jackson, Mitch Mascari, Luke Moustakas, Spencer Schomers, Christian Stanislav, and Luke Waters;

Whereas the entire Bearcats coaching staff contributed to the NCAA National Championship victory, including Ben McCollum, Zach Schneider, Xavier Kurth, Dray Starzl, Jaran Richman, and Jake Coffman; and

Whereas the 3 consecutive NCAA National Championship victories of the Bearcats provide a sense of excitement and pride for the City of Maryville, Missouri, and Bearcat nation across Missouri: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,