TAHLEQUAH – A blazing start for the RiverHawks paved the way for a 95-86 season opening win over Southwestern Oklahoma on Friday evening inside the NSU Event Center.  Northeastern State had six players in double-figures in the scoring outburst and were led by junior transfer Caleb Smith who had 19 points and six assists. 
 
D'Angelo Jackson started the night off to the right foot for NSU with three treys in the opening four minutes to give his team a 16-4 lead at 16:20 mark.  Northeastern State never looked back and led from the opening horn.
 
The senior transfer from Eastern Illinois finished the evening with 14 points and six assists.
 
Tanner Mouse added 16 points, Aaron Givens and Lincoln Wieseman both had 11 and Trent Cantrell scored ten.
 
Southwestern Oklahoma (0-1) trailed as many as 22 points in second half and they will face Central Oklahoma (1-0) on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. inside the NSU Event Center.
 
TURNING POINT
The RiverHawks opened the game with back-to-back three pointers from Mouse and Jackson.  Southwestern Oklahoma would not hit a bucket for nearly four minutes.
 
GAME NOTES

• The RiverHawks sank eight of their nine total three-pointers in the first half.
• Givens and Wieseman led NSU with seven rebounds
• Northeastern State had a 34-to-29 advantage on the glass.
• All ten players who saw action for NSU on Friday had at least a point.
• From the field, NSU shot 58.5-percent (31-55) which was their best since William Woods on Jan. 15, 2018.
• Largest scoring outburst in the Mark Downey era.
• First season opening win for the RiverHawks since the 2013-14 season.

 
COMING UP
Northeastern State will return to action on Saturday evening where they will face Northwestern Oklahoma (0-1) at 7:15 p.m.