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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team lost in overtime 83-78 to Missouri Western State University Thursday night inside MWSU Fieldhouse.
 
The RiverHawks dropped to 2-7 on the season and 1-2 in the MIAA. The Griffons improved to 5-4 on the year and 1-1 in the league.
 
Senior guard Keon Littleton had a career night, as he registered his second double-double. He poured in a career-high 22 points (18 in the first half) and also hauled in 10 rebounds. Senior guard Michael Harmon added 14 points, junior guard Trey Mohair chipped in 11 and freshman guard Montre' Williams contributed 10.
 
NSU shot 41.3 percent (26-for-63) from the field, 37.5 percent (6-for-16) from downtown and 74.1 percent (20-for-27) at the free-throw line. Missouri Western State shot 57.1 percent (28-for-49) overall, 50 percent (9-for-18) from distance and 62.1 percent (18-for-29) at the charity stripe.
 
Cortrez Colbert paced the Griffons with a game-high 25 points. Wes Mitter (12) was the only other player in double figures.
 
Both teams held four-point leads in the first half, and, after six ties and six lead changes, it was the RiverHawks who were able to escape the first 20 minutes with a 34-33 advantage.
 
The beginning of the second half belonged to the home team, as MWSU was able to pull ahead 57-48 with 10 minutes remaining in regulation. The Griffons maintained the nine-point lead until a 3-point basket from Harmon at the 6:32 mark sparked a 13-4 NSU run that tied the contest at 68-68 with 2:08 to play.
 
Northeastern State took a two-point lead into the final minute, but a pair of free throws from Colbert at the 42-second mark coupled with a steal and fast-break dunk with 10 seconds left on the clock put Missouri Western on top by two points. After an NSU timeout, Mohair ran the length of the floor and converted a layup in the final seconds to send the game into an extra session.
 
The RiverHawks went empty-handed on their first four overtime possessions, and that was all MWSU needed to build a cushion and pull away for the five-point victory.
 
Next up for Northeastern State will be a national TV game against No. 3 Central Missouri. The RiverHawks and Mules will be featured on CBS Sports Network at 10 a.m. Dec. 20 live from Warrensburg, Missouri.

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