Game #6
(RV) Northeastern State (5-0) at Tarleton State (2-2)
Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. | Wisdom Gym 

• Northeastern State is off to its best start since the 2012-13 season with a 5-0 record.  The team has not started 6-0 since 2002, which was their National Championship season.
• The RiverHawks are receiving 13 votes in the latest NABC poll.  The last time they crossed into the top-25 in the poll was Nov. 26, 2013.    
• NSU's defense is tops in the nation and has allowed only 49.6 points per game.
• Teams are shooting 30-percent against the RiverHawks, which is second lowest nationally.
• Northeastern State has not trailed by more than four points and for only 7:04 this season.
• Kendrick Thompson has averaged 21.5 points in the last two games and has shot 55.5-percent from the field.
• In the last two games, Aaron Givens has averaged 10.5 rebounds per game. 
• The NSU bench is averaging 30.8 points a game. 
• Lone trip south of the Red River for Northeastern State this season.
• Head Coach Mark Downey is 15-9 in non-conference play with NSU winning eight of their last nine games.

• A past Lone Star Conference rival and the first meeting with the Texans since 2011. 
• The final meeting between the programs as Division II teams.  Tarleton will be moving to Division I and the WAC at the start of the next academic year.
• Tarleton State has won the last nine meetings with NSU's last win coming on Feb. 21, 2004 (62-40).
• NSU's last win in Stephenville was in the 2003 NCAA Sweet 16. Northeastern State went on to win the National Title that season. 
• Northeastern State trails the series 7-3 against the Texans on their home floor. 

• The Texans will open Lone Star Conference play on Thursday against Dallas Baptist before facing the RiverHawks. 
• Saturday's game was initially scheduled for 4 p.m., but due to a home playoff football game, it was pushed at a 7:30 p.m. tip.
• Has lost four in a row at home to NCAA competition. 
• Recently fell out of the NABC poll following a 69-57 home loss to Oklahoma Baptist on Nov. 14.
• Josh Hawley leads the Texans with 18.8 points per game and adds 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals. Hawley has three double-doubles in four games for the Texans.
• Ranked inside the bottom 50 in personal fouls per game.
• Voted to finish fourth in the LSC and had two first-placevotes.  Hawley was named Preseason Player of the Year.

• NSU held Langston to a Mark Downey era low 39 points on Monday evening. The Lions only made 13 buckets which were also a low under Downey.
• In just over four minutes against Langston, the RiverHawks scored 23 unanswered points, which was the most in over a year. 
• Daniel Dotson started the run of 23 straight with a trey, NSU's lead shrunk down to seven with 12:38 left in the game.
• The Lions were limited to just two buckets in the second half and 15 points, which matched a Downey era low in the final 20 minutes of play. 
• Caleb Smith was held scoreless until the final 5:03 of the game.