EDMOND – A late tip-in bucket with 11 seconds to go by Trent Cantrell was enough for the RiverHawks on Tuesday evening to best rivals Central Oklahoma, 74-71, inside Hamilton Field House.

The win moves NSU a half game back of Pittsburg State for sixth in the MIAA standings.  With one regular season game remaining NSU holds a 14-13 overall record and 8-10 league mark. 

Caleb Smith led paced the RiverHawks with 19 points with four made treys.  Bradley George scored 15 and Josh Ihek was a rebound short of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards.  Cantrell finished the night with eight points. 

Northeastern State held off a late rally by the Bronchos that saw an 11-point RiverHawks' lead evaporate in the final eight minutes.   A 13-3 run put Central ahead 62-61 with 3:20 remaining.  

Both teams traded jabs before Smith broke a 65-65 tie with 1:28 remaining with a trey.  Central responded back with a jumper in the following possession.  

NSU drained the clock down to the final seconds and tried to deal a knockout blow.  A three-point attempt but it would miss with 13 seconds to go.  Cantrell would grab the critical offensive rebound and then the bucket to lead the RiverHawks to the win. 

Central outshot the RiverHawks going 47.1-percent on their side of the floor.  Northeastern State would control the glass by eight with 35 team rebounds.  

The loss to NSU eliminates the Bronchos from the postseason, as they will fall to 11-16 overall and 4-14 in the MIAA.

TIP-INS
RiverHawks snapped a six-game skid against Central Oklahoma … first win in Edmond since Jan. 16, 2013, which was both teams first MIAA meeting … 18th game this season that NSU has out-rebounded a team … RiverHawks led for over 30 minutes … Ihek had three blocks in his third start of the season. 

COMING UP
The RiverHawks will wrap their regular season on Thursday where they will host Emporia State for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.