TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team lost 73-66 to No. 23 Northwest Missouri State Saturday afternoon inside the NSU Event Center.
 
The RiverHawks (7-15, 6-12 MIAA) dropped back into 13th in the MIAA standings and are now on the outside looking in for a playoff spot with four games remaining in the regular season. The Bearcats (19-5, 16-3 MIAA) improved their lead in the conference to four games over the team sitting in second.
 
Sophomore guard Montre' Williams led the green and white with 14 points off the bench. Senior guards Killven Samuel and Trey Mohair added 13 and 12 points, respectively, while junior forward Javon Wallace chipped in 10.
 
Northeastern State shot 43.1 percent (22-for-51) from the field, 31.8 percent (7-for-22) from behind the 3-point line and 83.3 percent (15-for-18) at the free-throw line. Northwest Missouri State shot 46.8 percent (22-for-47) overall, 42.3 percent (11-for-26) from distance and 72 percent (18-for-25) at the line.
 
Zach Schneider led all scorers with 23 points, while Justin Pitts added 18 and Conner Crooker chipped in 12.
 
The RiverHawks led in assists (18-9), blocks (4-1), steals (6-0), points in the paint (20-12), points off turnovers (15-11), fast-break points (10-0), bench points (47-15), and fewer turnovers (10-11). NWMSU led in rebounding (31-28) and second-chance points (13-6).
 
NSU will now hit the road for the final time this year when the green and white plays its next two contests away from Tahlequah. First up will be a 7:30 p.m. tilt Feb. 17 against Washburn in Topeka, Kansas.

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-