RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Inconsistent play on Saturday dashed the RiverHawks hopes of a road comeback at Arkansas Tech falling 88-76.
 
Northeastern State trimmed double-digit leads by the Wonder Boys down to two possessions in the closing minutes of both halves but they could not complete the rally. 
 
Marquise Harris led NSU with 12 points off the bench.  Lucas Antunez, Josh Bougher, and Trent Cantrell all had 11 points as others in double-figures for the RiverHawks.
 
In the first half, Northeastern State trailed as many as 44-28 with 2:42 left on the clock before they and scored ten unanswered points to cut the ATU lead to six.  Despite the run, Arkansas Tech who had the ball on the final possession of the half hit a three-pointer before the buzzer to take their lead to 47-38 into the locker room.
 
The closest NSU would get in the second half came off a Harris layup midway to through to trail 63-58; Arkansas Tech followed up with eight unanswered points. 
 
In the closing minutes, a layup by Coryon Mason cut the ATU lead to 81-74 with 1:41 left.  Gordon Hill would steal the ball in the following possession to give NSU a shot but their three-point attempt would miss forcing them to foul the Wonder Boys to extend the game.
 
Shooting was near even on both sides of the ball with NSU just slightly below ATU at 41.3-percent (31-75).  In rebounding, Northeastern State had a 45-to-40 lead with Hill pacing the RiverHawks with nine. 
 
At the line ATU (4-1) had 23 points on fouls, Northeastern State was sent the line 11 times, and had seven points.
 
Saturday's loss spoiled the return to ATU for Northeastern State head coach Mark Downey who coached the Wonder Boys from 2006-10.
 
Northeastern State (3-3) will open MIAA play on the road this upcoming Thursday against Northwest Missouri at 7:30 p.m.