TAHLEQUAH – A strong finish for the RiverHawks snapped a five-game skid in a 72-62 win over Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon inside the NSU Event Center. 

Northeastern State used a 23-11 run in the final eight minutes to race past the Tigers for a critical MIAA win.  

Heading into the final two games of the regular season, the RiverHawks sit in seventh place with a 7-10 league mark.  They are tied with Central Missouri and Lindenwood but hold tiebreakers over those two programs. 

Caleb Smith paced NSU with 19 points, Trent Cantrell and Bradley George both had 12.  Josh Ihek in his second start of the season scored ten points, with seven rebounds, and a season-best four blocks. 

Northeastern State trailed as many as 11 and never led until the 13-minute mark in the second half.  

The momentum shifted for NSU after the game's fourth tie at 53-53 with 7:21 left.  Northeastern State went on a run of 14 straight points in the following four minutes to put the Tigers away. 

From the field, NSU shot an even 50-percent (25-50) with rebounds being even at 31 each.  

Northeastern State is 13-13 overall with the win over tie Tigers who are now 16-10 (10-7 MIAA).

TIP-INS
George dished out seven assists off the bench … 13th game this season that the RiverHawks have scored ten consecutive on an opponent … snapped a four-game winning streak for the Tigers over NSU … the run of 14 straight points is the fourth largest of the season for NSU and largest against an MIAA program this season. 

COMING UP
Northeastern State will play a rare Tuesday evening MIAA contest at Central Oklahoma on Feb. 26 for a 7:30 p.m. tip.