EDMOND, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team fell to Central Oklahoma 70-66 Saturday afternoon inside Hamilton Field House.
 
The RiverHawks (6-14, 5-11 MIAA) dropped to 13th in the conference standings and are now on the outside looking in at a potential playoff spot in the season-ending 12-team MIAA Championship. The Bronchos (12-10, 8-8) moved into a tie for sixth in the league table.
 
Senior forward Dakota Caudill had a monster game with 21 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high five steals in 31 minutes. He registered his fourth double-double of the season and third in the last five games. Senior guard Trey Mohair tallied 19 points.
 
Northeastern State shot 33.3 percent (23-for-69) from the field, 21.1 percent (8-for-38) from behind 3-point line and 63.2 percent (12-for-19) at the free-throw line. UCO shot 40.4 percent (23-for-57) overall, 25 percent (5-for-20) from distance and 65.5 percent (19-for-29) at the line.
 
Only two Bronchos scored in double figures, and they both tallied just 11 points. Those were Trai Jordan and Corey Alpough.
 
The RiverHawks led in rebounding (49-36), points off turnovers (23-12), second-chance points (16-3) and fast-break points (21-18). UCO led in assists (14-8), blocks (5-2), steals (18-13), points in the paint (34-28), bench points (29-20) and fewer turnovers (20-25).
 
NSU will next play host to Missouri Western State in a clash of two teams battling for the 12th and final spot in the MIAA playoffs. The RiverHawks and Griffons will lock up at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 inside the NSU Event Center. MWSU topped Northeastern State 84-69 earlier this season in St. Joseph, Missouri.
 
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