[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 72 (Thursday, May 2, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2620-S2621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 185--COMMENDING THE NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE 
    UNIVERSITY BEARCATS MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM FOR ANOTHER NATIONAL 
   COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 
                                VICTORY

  Mr. BLUNT (for himself and Mr. Hawley) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 185

       Whereas, on March 30, 2019, the Northwest Missouri State 
     University Bearcats men's basketball team (referred to in 
     this preamble as the ``Bearcats'') defeated Point Loma 
     Nazarene University by a score of 64 to 58 in the National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble 
     as the ``NCAA'') Division II national championship game in 
     Evansville, Indiana;
       Whereas that victory is the second national championship 
     victory in 3 years for the Bearcats;
       Whereas the Bearcats ended the 2018-2019 season as the only 
     undefeated men's basketball program in the NCAA, with an 
     overall record of 38-0, tying the NCAA Division II record for 
     most wins in a season and making the Bearcats only the fifth 
     team in the history of NCAA Division II men's basketball to 
     win a national title with a perfect record;
       Whereas, with 38 wins, the undefeated 2018-2019 season--
       (1) was only the fourth time in the history of the men's 
     basketball program at Northwest Missouri State University 
     that the Bearcats reached the 30-win mark; and
       (2) broke the previous Bearcat record of 31 wins and zero 
     losses set by the 1929-1930 Bearcats led by Coach Hank Iba;
       Whereas all 11 players on the Bearcats roster should be 
     congratulated, including--
       (1) Diego Bernard;
       (2) Tyler Dougherty;
       (3) Kirk Finley;
       (4) Ryan Hawkins;
       (5) Trevor Hudgins;
       (6) Daric Laing;
       (7) Xavier Rhodes;
       (8) Dray Starzl;
       (9) Luke Waters;
       (10) Ryan Welty; and
       (11) Joey Witthus;
       Whereas, during the 2018-2019 season, the Bearcats--
       (1) held opponents to an average of 61.7 points;
       (2) forced 13 turnovers per game; and
       (3) shot 50 percent or better from the field in 22 of 38 
     games;
       Whereas all 5 starters on the Bearcats roster (Diego 
     Bernard, Ryan Hawkins, Trevor Hudgins, Ryan Welty, and Joey 
     Witthus) made 40 or more 3-point field goals during the 2018-
     2019 season;
       Whereas 3 players on the Bearcats roster (Ryan Hawkins, 
     Trevor Hudgins, and Joey Witthus) scored more than 500 points 
     during the 2018-2019 season;
       Whereas, with 339 rebounds during the 2018-2019 season, 
     Ryan Hawkins set the Northwest Missouri State University 
     single-season record for rebounds;
       Whereas Trevor Hudgins--
       (1) tied the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics 
     Association (referred to in this preamble as the ``MIAA'') 
     record for consecutive free throws made, with 36 consecutive 
     free throws made during the 2018-2019 season;
       (2) set a Northwest Missouri State University single-season 
     record for assists, with 203 assists during the 2018-2019 
     season; and
       (3) set the MIAA freshman scoring record for points, 
     scoring 712 points during the 2018-2019 season;
       Whereas Joey Witthus--
       (1) set the Northwest Missouri State University single-
     season record for 3-point field goals made, with 114 3-point 
     field goals made during the 2018-2019 season; and
       (2) set the Northwest Missouri State University single-
     season record for points, scoring 780 points during the 2018-
     2019 season;
       Whereas the 2018-2019 Bearcats--
       (1) set the single-season MIAA record for points, scoring a 
     total of 3,130 points during the 2018-2019 season;

[[Page S2621]]

       (2) set the team record for field goals made, with 1,105 
     field goals made during the 2018-2019 season; and
       (3) set the team record for 3-point field goals made, with 
     404 3-point field goals made during the 2018-2019 season;
       Whereas Joey Witthus and Trevor Hudgins were named to the 
     All-MIAA First Team;
       Whereas Ryan Hawkins--
       (1) was named to the All-MIAA Second Team; and
       (2) was named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team;
       Whereas Diego Bernard--
       (1) was named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team; and
       (2) was an All-MIAA honorable mention;
       Whereas Ryan Welty--
       (1) was an All-MIAA honorable mention; and
       (2) is the active career leader in 3-point field goal 
     percentage in the United States, with a 3-point field goal 
     percentage of 50.8; and
       Whereas Coach Ben McCollum--
       (1) earned the John McLendon Collegiate Basketball Coach of 
     the Year award, making Coach Ben McCollum the first non-
     Division I head coach to receive the award;
       (2) was named NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by 
     Basketball Times;
       (3) was named Coach of the Year by the MIAA; and
       (4) led the Bearcats to a 100-5 record over 3 seasons: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the Northwest Missouri State University 
     Bearcats men's basketball team for another National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association Division II national 
     championship victory in men's basketball;
       (2) recognizes the athletic prowess, hard work, and 
     dedication exhibited by the players, coaches, support staff, 
     and student body of Northwest Missouri State University; and
       (3) congratulates--
       (A) the city of Maryville, Missouri;
       (B) the fans of the Northwest Missouri State University 
     Bearcats men's basketball team; and
       (C) the alumni of Northwest Missouri State University 
     throughout the world.

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