ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team lost 84-69 to Missouri Western State University Saturday evening inside MWSU Fieldhouse.
 
The RiverHawks (2-8, 1-5 MIAA) are still winless on the road this season with a 0-6 mark, while the Griffons improved to 4-9 overall and 2-5 in the conference.
 
No starter for NSU scored more than six points as the five starters combined for just 20 points. Senior guard Killven Samuel entered the contest with just four points total scored in the first half of the year, and he finished with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting off the bench. Sophomore guard Montre' Williams added 15 points, while junior guard Braxton Williams hauled in 11 rebounds.
 
Northeastern State shot 34.7 percent (25-for-72) from the field, 26.1 percent (6-for-23) from behind the 3-point line and 54.2 percent (13-for-24) at the free-throw line. MWSU shot 42.1 percent (24-for-57) from the field, 32 percent (8-for-25) from beyond the arc and 75.7 percent (28-for-37) at the charity stripe.
 
Trey Sampson only needed nine shot attempts to finish with a game-high 23 points as he was a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line. Miles Wentzien came off the bench to contribute 16 points, while Aaron Emmanuel added 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the winning cause.
 
The Griffons led in rebounding (48-44), assists (16-11), blocks (8-3), points off turnovers (17-12), and second-chance points (13-7). NSU led in steals (8-4), points in the paint (34-30) and bench points (49-38).
 
Northeastern State will return to action at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4 against Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Missouri.

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