EMPORIA, Kan. – Northeastern State picked up a must-win game on Thursday night besting Emporia State 69-65 behind a team effort and now sits with one game lead for the final postseason spot in the MIAA Tournament.
 
The RiverHawks led as many as 17-points in the first half and a 12-0 Emporia State run into halftime to gave NSU a 36-31 lead in the locker room.   Emporia State dug out of the hole and spun around to lead 54-48 with 7:42 left in the contest.   However, Northeastern State halted the Hornets who were limited to three buckets in the next six minutes.   Senior Karon Waller carried the RiverHawks to the finish scoring the team's final 12 points and icing the game with 11 made free-throws.
 
"We are battling down the stretch and that's what you want to see from your team as a coach, said head coach Jason Tinsley. "It would been easy for them to pack it up a long time ago but we continued to battle and found a way to win on the road tonight.  Everyone who got minutes contributed in some form, Erick (Broadnax) grabbed some big time boards for us in the first half, Tanner (Mouse) got hot at the start of the game, and Karon (Waller) had a good night and has gotten better for us in the last four games." 
 
"Hats off to team for battling on the road and staying with them after we gave up a 17-point lead.  We got one game left on the schedule but it's a whole lot easier when you're the team that's being chased for that playoff spot."
 
With Missouri Western losing to Lincoln they fell into a tie with Pittsburg State with matching 3-15 MIAA records.   Northeastern State with a win on Saturday over Washburn would secure the postseason berth regardless of the outcomes of Missouri Western and Pittsburg State.   A loss on Saturday and win by Missouri Western would still put NSU into the tournament by virtue of winning the head-to-head matchup.  However, a Pittsburg State win at Central Missouri and a NSU loss would knock the RiverHawks out of the tournament.
 
Waller led NSU with a career high 19-points, Tanner Mouse added 12, and Montre' Williams chipped in 11.   Northeastern State shot 45.8-percent (22-48) from the field besting ESU's 40.4-percent (21-52). 
 
In the rebounding battle, the Hornets grabbed 37, which was 11 more than the RiverHawks.  Trent Cantrell led NSU with six off the glass.
 
Emporia State (13-14, 9-9 MIAA) dropped only their third home contest in 12 games this season and they were led by Tyler Jordan who had 14 points.
 
The RiverHawks are 5-21 and 4-14 in the MIAA, they will travel to Topeka, Kan. to close out the regular season for a 3:30 p.m. tip.