III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 168 

Congratulating the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men’s basketball team on winning the 2021 NCAA Men’s Division II National 

Championship. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 21, 2021 

Mr. BLUNT (for himself and Mr. HAWLEY) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the Northwest Missouri State University 

Bearcats men’s basketball team on winning the 2021 

NCAA Men’s Division II National Championship. 

Whereas, on March 27, 2021, the Northwest Missouri State 

University Bearcats men’s basketball team (in this preamble referred to as the ‘‘Bearcats’’) clinched their third 

National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II National Championship in 5 years in a landslide 

80–54 victory over the West Texas A&M University Buffaloes; 

Whereas the Bearcats should be proud of their University’s 

storied history dating back to the inception of the school 

in 1905; 


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•SRES 168 ATS 

Whereas the Bearcats should be commended for their success 

and perseverance throughout the 2020–2021 season despite uncertainty during the coronavirus outbreak; 

Whereas the Bearcats’ victory marked the men’s basketball 

team’s second consecutive national championship, cementing the Bearcats’ place atop NCAA Division II 

men’s basketball; 

Whereas the West Texas A&M University Buffaloes should 

also be commended on their efforts and success throughout an unprecedented season during the COVID–19 pandemic; 

Whereas the city of Evansville, Indiana, and the NCAA 

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 3–0 during the championship 

tournament with an average margin of victory of 26 

points; 

Whereas the Bearcats clinched a first round victory against 

West Liberty by a score of 98–77; 

Whereas the Bearcats clinched a second round victory against 

Flagler by a score of 77–46; 

Whereas the Bearcats claimed their title as back-to-back national champions by defeating West Texas A&M by a 

score of 80–54; 

Whereas Ryan Hawkins should be commended for his role in 

the Bearcats’ national championship victory by scoring a 

game-high 31 points while securing 18 rebounds; 

Whereas 3 additional starting members of the Bearcats, Wes 

Dreamer, Trevor Hudgins, and Luke Waters, each scored 


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•SRES 168 ATS 

in the double digits in the championship game and should 

be commended for their scoring efforts; 

Whereas Wes Dreamer and Ryan Hawkins should each be 

commended for achieving a double-double in the championship game by scoring and rebounding in the double 

digits; 

Whereas Ryan Hawkins and Trevor Hudgins should be celebrated for their selection to the Elite Eight All-Tournament Team; 

Whereas Ryan Hawkins should further be recognized for 

being named as the Elite Eight’s Most Outstanding Player; 

Whereas the entire Bearcats roster should be commended for 

their 50 percent field goal percentage and 47 percent 3- 

point shooting; 

Whereas the entire Bearcats roster contributed to the national championship victory, including Spencer Schomers, 

Diego Bernard, Jaran Richman, Isaiah Jackson, Wes 

Dreamer, Byron Alexander, Trevor Hudgins, Mitch 

Mascari, Daric Laing, Ryan Hawkins, Christian 

Stanislav, Luke Waters, and Daniel Abreu; 

Whereas the entire Bearcats coaching staff contributed to the 

national championship victory, including Ben McCollum, 

Zach Schneider, Xavier Kurth, Dray Starzl, Nick Peters, 

Justin Dickerson, Sam Hawley, and Landon Graver; and 

Whereas the Bearcats back-to-back national championships 

provide a sense of excitement and pride to the City of 

Maryville and Bearcat nation across Missouri: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 168 ATS 

1 (1) congratulates the Northwest Missouri State 

2 University Bearcats men’s basketball team and the 

3 entire University, Mayor of Maryville Benjamin 

4 Lipiec, University President Dr. John Jasinski, Gov5 ernor Mike Parson, and fans of the Bearcats on 

6 their national championship; and 

7 (2) respectfully directs the Secretary of the 

8 Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolu9 tion to— 

10 (A) the President of Northwest Missouri 

11 State University; 

12 (B) head coach Ben McCollum; and 

13 (C) Mayor Benjamin Lipiec. 

Æ 


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