TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State overcame a pair of late turnovers to hold off Missouri Southern for an 83-80 win of Thursday evening inside the NSU Event Center. 
 
The win over the Lions, a preseason pick to win the MIAA this season, is NSU's second in a row and will send them to 8-8 and 2-5 in league play. 
 
Northeastern State led as many as 12 points in the second half but the Lions reeled the RiverHawks back in on an 11-2 run to trail 60-58 with 9:14 left in the game.  From then on Northeastern State could not shake away Southern. 
 
With NSU up 81-78 and 28 seconds remaining the RiverHawks had two critical turnovers that could have tied the game.   The Lions would be called for an illegal screen on the first and miss twice at the arc to tie the game.
 
"We did some good things," said head coach Mark Downey. "We didn't end the game very well and that's my fault. We haven't been in these situations very often. But we'll take it. That's a good win against a good team and we needed it."
 
"I thought our performance in the first half gave us a good boost.  We came out with really good energy and we were able to get a lead early in the game."
 
Northeastern State shot 66.0-percent on 33-for-50 shooting with Bradley George having a career high 22 points.  Caleb Smith added 21 and Trent Cantrell matched his career mark with 18 points. 
 
On the glass NSU finished ahead of Southern (13-4, 4-3 MIAA) by three with 27, Cantrell had a team high seven.
 
TIP-INS
Fifth straight game NSU has out-rebounded a team and 12th of the season … second straight home win over Missouri Southern … first time since Jan. 25, 2017 at Missouri Southern that NSU had two players with 20+ points … first back-to-back MIAA wins since the 2015-16 season.
 
COMING UP
Northeastern State returns to the Event Center on Saturday to host Pittsburg State at 2:30 p.m.