SHAWNEE, Okla. – A 15 point run by Northeastern State midway through the contest provided enough distance to beat Oklahoma Baptist 91-77 on Tuesday evening.
The contest was 121st meeting and the first since 1994 between the old rival in-state schools from their NAIA District IX days.
Career nights by
Jamir Andrews and
Trent Cantrell, along with the team's highest shooting percentage in over two-years were the prefect storm for the RiverHawks.
Andrews had 29 points on 11 made shots against the Bison which was an individual team high this season. Cantrell was perfect off of the NSU bench going 6-for-6 from the field and 3-for-3 at the free-throw line for 16 points. Northeastern State as a team shot 64.3-percent (36-56) which was the first time since Feb. 12, 2015 vs. Emporia State that the RiverHawks shot 60-percent or higher.
In the first half Andrews was a one man show in fending off the Bison who rained down eight three-pointers and the NSU graduate student shot 8-for-10 with 22 points. As a team, the RiverHawks had their best half of the season shooting 68-percent (17-25) from the field but rallied from a five point, 43-38, deficit with 2:17 remaining to the half. Andrews sank his fourth trey of the half to start a run of ten unanswered points to take a 48-43 lead into the locker room.
Josh Bougher continued NSU's scoring following the intermission with five answered points to extend their lead to 53-43 over the Bison. Despite shooting above 60-percent in the second half, nearly all of NSU's points came from inside after they failed to connect on seven straight three-point attempts. The Bison lived on the arc attempting 16 shots while making six.
The Bison (2-3) shot 46.2-perecent from the field (24-52) and were led by Chadler Rickey who had 27 points in the loss.
In the rebounding battle, NSU had a 32-23 lead over the Bison, and dominated the paint 44-to-16.
Tuesday's win was the first for Northeastern State against Oklahoma Baptist since 1992 and will send the RiverHawks to 3-2 overall in non-conference play.
Northeastern State will remain on the road and will face Arkansas Tech on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
