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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team lost an 83-59 decision to Northwest Missouri State Monday night inside the NSU Event Center.
 
The RiverHawks dropped to 3-9 overall and 1-4 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, while the Bearcats improved to 11-2 on the season and 4-1 in the league.
 
Senior guard Keon Littleton led NSU with 13 points, while freshman forward C.J. Winzer added 12 points off the bench.

Northeastern State shot 41.8 percent (23-for-55) from the field, 29.4 percent (5-for-17) from 3-point territory and 72.7 percent (8-for-11) at the free-throw line. NWMSU shot 45.8 percent (27-for-59) overall, 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from distance and 70.8 percent (17-for-24) at the charity stripe.
 
The Bearcats were led by Justin Pitts' 20 points (18 in the first half). Conner Crooker added 16, Zach Schneider contributed 15 and Grant Cozad scored 14. Brett Dougherty pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds off the bench.
 
Northwest Missouri State led 53-24 at halftime, and NSU outscored the Bearcats 35-30 over the final 20 minutes of action.
 
NWMSU outrebounded NSU 45-24 and also led in second-chance points (15-2). NSU led in fewer turnovers (8-12), points in the paint (30-24) and bench points (18-12).
 
The RiverHawks are now set to hit the road for a 7:30 p.m. tilt Jan. 8 against Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Missouri.

NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH JASON TINSLEY
Initial Statement...
"It was a tough game. Obviously, we were not ready to play. Northwest Missouri State is really good and we prepared for them hard. We practiced guarding their stuff and watched tape, but it didn't carry over to the game tonight. It was tough to watch. It was tough for me sitting on the bench to watch. It wasn't even competitive tonight. We allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do at any time they wanted to do it. We got nothing done."
 
On being outrebounded on the offensive glass...
"Neither one of these teams is a good offensive rebounding team. We both entered the game getting 28.3 percent of the shots that we miss, which is not good. But low and behold we let them get 15 offensive rebounds. We don't rebound the basketball on either end. We don't make an effort to block anybody out. We're at a crossroads right now. We're feeling sorry for ourselves and we don't want to be coached. We don't want to guard anybody, but we don't want anybody to say anything about it."
 
On getting ready for the next game...
"Only our guys can get better. If they don't get past this game, it's not going to get any better. It sounds like a broken record, but until they defend better, until they rebound, until we're able to create some easy shots for ourselves by passing, or driving, or feeding the post, it's the same old thing. These other teams aren't working on anything different than we are. But our guys are timid. They won't cut to the basket and if they do, it's a soft cut."
 
On taking positives from the game...
"I thought we shot the ball pretty decent in the second half. We shot 45 percent from the field, so we did a little bit better there. We did a better job of taking care of the ball. We didn't have a lot of turnovers which is something we are trying to emphasize. We can't give the other team a bunch of extra opportunities. I thought that in the few minutes (Austin) Lynch gave us off the bench he did a decent job. I thought that C.J. Winzer played his best game that he's played all year. I think C.J. got a little bit better tonight. Trey Mohair did a good job and down the stretch Amir Gilliam did some good things."