SAN ANTONIO, Texas – A slow start and cold shooting for the RiverHawks proved to be too much to overcome in a 72-55 loss on Sunday evening at St. Mary's to close out non-conference play. 
 
The loss is NSU's third in their last four games as they will go to 6-5 overall in to the New Year.  St. Mary's who faced Northeastern State last in 2003 won their third game in a row to go to 9-5 overall.  
 
Northeastern State shot a season low 33.3-percent (19-57) and were 5-for-27 at the arc in the loss.  Normally steady handed, the RiverHawks entered the contest shooting near 50-percent from the field.
 
Tanner Mouse led NSU with 11 points and Caleb Smith was the squads other player in double-digits with ten. 
 
Leading the RiverHawks 21-to-13 at the 13:57 mark, the Rattlers would score 11 straight in the next four minutes.  Northeastern State trailed by double-figures the rest of the way.
 
Trent Cantrell scored eight and D'Angelo Jackson added seven points. 
 
In the rebounding battle, the Rattlers had a 44-to-33 lead.  St. Mary's Skyler Brooks left the contest with a game high 22 points and Dimitri Peterson grabbed 13 rebounds.
 
TIP-INS
Widest point margin in an NSU loss this season and in the last 19 contests … the RiverHawks were 12-for-24 at the free throw line … first time in the last six contests that NSU was out-rebounded … first win for St. Mary's over the RiverHawks with an overall series record at 2-1 favoring NSU.
 
COMING UP
Northeastern State will re-open MIAA play on Thursday with Northwest Missouri visiting Tahlequah; tip-off time is set for 7:30 p.m.  The Bearcats were ranked number-2 in the last coaches' poll and hold a 12-0 record this season.