TULSA – Northeastern State was only outscored by three in the final 20 minutes but they could not recover from a slow start at Tulsa falling 84-52 at the Reynolds Center on Monday night.
 
Tanner Mouse led the RiverHawks with 14 points as NSU forced 29 turnovers on the Golden Hurricane.
 
"I thought we did a little better job in the second half defending them as a whole," said head coach Jason Tinsley.  "Their (Tulsa) field goal percentage went from 62-percent to 37-percent.  We did a whole lot better job on the offensive glass but we didn't convert the points."
 
The RiverHawks were outrebounded by Tulsa 58-to-37 but NSU had two more offensive boards with 18 for the night.  Erick Broadnax led NSU with seven rebounds and had a game high four blocks. 
 
In the first half, NSU shot only 19-percent on the floor and made a pair of three point shots to trail the Golden Hurricane 46-17 at the intermission.   
 
Northeastern State played even with Golden Hurricane in the final 20 minutes and pecked away 12 points off of turnovers.  Tyler Williams came off the NSU bench and scored seven in the second half and Devante Robinson left with a pair of made three-pointers.   Tulsa would maintain a sizable lead but it wouldn't increase past 39 points. 
 
Fouls plagued NSU in both halves with Tulsa going up to the line 38 times, the RiverHawks would only go up to the line 11 times.
 
Tulsa shot 49-percent (26-53) on the floor but were only limited to four treys on Monday night.  Northeastern State shot 26-percent (20-76) on the Golden Hurricane, making seven three pointers on 30 shots.
 
TU had three in double-figures with Travis Atson matching Mouse for a game high 14 points, Junior Etou had ten rebounds to lead both squads.
 
Monday's contest was an exhibition for both squads and does not count toward either team's overall record.
 
The RiverHawks will officially open the season on Friday in Edmond to play in the MIAA/GAC Challenge to face Southeastern Oklahoma at 3 p.m.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- NSU's defense forced 29 turnovers which is the most in the last decade had the contest counted.
- The RiverHawks led in offensive rebounds in 8-to-4 in the first half.
- Karon Waller made NSU's first three-pointer on their ninth attempt at the 6:07 mark in the opening period.
- Points off of turnovers were even for both teams at 17 and NSU trailed 14-to-11 in second chance points.
- Assists were limited by both teams with Mouse tying three others for a game high with three.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE
MOUSE, Tanner 5-14 2-2 14; WALLER, Karon 2-10 1-2 7; WILLIAMS, Tyler 3-11 0-0 7; TURNER, Juvon 3-5 0-3 6; ROBINSON, Devante 2-7 0-0 6; CANTRELL, Trent 2-4 0-0 4; WALLACE, Javon 1-4 0-0 2; BROADNAX, Erick 0-2 2-2 2; WILLIAMS, Montre' 1-7 0-0 2; KINGSLEY, Scott 1-6 0-0 2; AUSTIN-JOHNSON, Khob 0-2 0-0
0; WILLIAMS, Braxton 0-3 0-2 0; HILL, Jordan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-76 5-11 52.
 
TULSA
ATSON, Travis 5-8 2-2 14; BIRT, Pat 4-9 4-4 13; IGBANU, Martins 2-4 9-10 13; WHEELER, Jaleel 3-5 3-5 9; ETOU, Junior 2-6 4-5 8; EDOGI, TK 3-5 2-4 8; TAPLIN, Sterling 3-7 1-2 7; ARTISON, Geno 2-4 1-2 6; MAGNAY, Will 2-4 1-2 5; HAITH, Corey 0-1 1-2 1; FOREE, Alex 0-0 0-0 0; BATTLE, Joseph 0-0 0-0 0;
KORITA, Lawson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 28-38 84.
 
3-point goals--Northeastern State 7-30 (ROBINSON, Devante 2-3; WALLER, Karon 2-7; MOUSE, Tanner 2-5; WILLIAMS, Tyler 1-6; WILLIAMS, Montre' 0-4; KINGSLEY, Scott 0-3; AUSTIN-JOHNSON, Khob 0-1; CANTRELL, Trent 0-1), Tulsa 4-14 (ATSON, Travis 2-3; BIRT, Pat 1-5; ARTISON, Geno 1-2; ETOU, Junior 0-1; TAPLIN, Sterling 0-1; WHEELER, Jaleel 0-1; IGBANU, Martins 0-1).
 
Fouled out--Northeastern State-TURNER, Juvon, Tulsa-None. Rebounds—Northeastern State 37 (BROADNAX, Erick 7), Tulsa 58 (ETOU, Junior 10).
 
Assists--Northeastern State 9 (MOUSE, Tanner 3), Tulsa 13 (TAPLIN, Sterling 3; KORITA, Lawson 3; ETOU, Junior 3).
 
Total fouls--Northeastern State 27, Tulsa 17.
 
Technical fouls--Northeastern State-None, Tulsa-None.