Northeastern State vs. Rogers State
Nov. 16, 2016 | 7:30 p.m. | Claremore, Okla.
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The Headline: Northeastern State will play its closest regular season road contest this season and make the 60 mile trek to the Claremore Expo Center where Rogers State plays their home contests at.   Montre' Williams has opened the season as NSU's leading scorer after hitting double-figures in his first two games and he scored at-least ten or more in his last seven out of eight games. 

The Series: The Hillcats have the overall series lead 3-0 on the RiverHawks since their first meeting in 2008.  This will be the second trip for the RiverHawks to Claremore since 2008.
 
Last time out for NSU: Northeastern State went 0-2 last weekend at the MIAA/GAC Challenge falling to Southeastern Oklahoma and Northwestern Oklahoma.  Montre' Williams led the RiverHawks in the two games by averaging 17.5 points and newcomer Juvon Turner had 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds at the crossover.  On Sunday, NSU rallied back from 17-points to go to overtime against the Rangers.  Tuner had a double-double which was his first in a NSU uniform and the team's first since Feb. 11, 2016 (Dakota Caudill vs. Missouri Western State).  The RiverHawks also forced 29 NWOSU turnovers and ten steals.  This was first time since Nov. 21, 2016 against UA-Fort Smith that the RiverHawks forced more than 25 turnovers and more than ten steals.

Last time out for Rogers State: The Hillcats were on the court on Monday at Oral Roberts in an exhibition for RSU but a regular season contest for the ORU.  Rogers State stayed on the Golden Eagles' heels for most of the contest trailing by one at the half before a 15-4 run by ORU distanced themselves as time expired.  The Hillcats had three in double-figures with Travis Hester leading RSU off the bench with 20 points.  As a team, RSU shot 42-percent from the field and at the three-point arc.

Scouting Rogers State: Rogers State is 1-1 after playing in their own invitational beating CSU-Pueblo 85-82 and falling to #20 Midwestern State 81-63.  The Rogers State men's basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the Heartland Conference Preseason Poll after finishing last year with 23-5 record.  The Hillcats lost four starters from and Heartland Conference Player of the Year, JC Hartzler.  

NSU Connection: Rogers State's head coach Justin Barkley is a graduate of Northeastern State and started his career on the NSU bench as a graduate assistant under Larry Gipson.  Barkley was also a member of NSU's 2003 NCAA Division II National Championship squad.