Game #27
Northeastern State (13-13, 7-10 MIAA) at Central Oklahoma (11-15, 4-13 MIAA)
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. | Edmond, Okla. 

Game #28
Emporia State (11-15, 6-11 MIAA)
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. | Tahlequah, Okla. 

Game Coverage	goriverhawksgo.com/coverage.aspx
NSU Game Notes	Game Notes
Live Audio	GoRiverHawksGo.com
Live Video	The MIAA Network ($)

Opening Tip 

• With two games in the regular season remaining, the RiverHawks are vying for a postseason berth.  
• Heading into the week NSU is seventh in the MIAA standings.
• Northeastern State has out-rebounded teams 17 times this season.
• In 13 games this season, NSU has gone on at least a 10-0 run against a foe.
• Caleb Smith is leading the RiverHawks in scoring with 16.7 points per game and is averaging 5.3 rebounds a game.
• In the last two games, Smith is averaging 21.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.
• Tanner Mouse is second in scoring with 12.8 points.
• Trent Cantrell is fourth in league play with 2.7 three-pointers a game.
• Josh Ihek is tied for second in MIAA play with 29 blocks.
• Northeastern State is fourth in the MIAA in field goal defense (43.5) and third in rebound margin (4.4).

The Series With Central Oklahoma

• One of the oldest series for NSU with its first meeting coming during the 1924-25 season.
• Central Oklahoma has won the last six games in the series.
• Last win for NSU was in Edmond was on Jan. 16, 2013 (80-71).
• Since joining the MIAA, the Bronchos lead the series 10-3.

About the Bronchos 

• Lost six of their last eight at home.
• Led in scoring by Adarius Avery (21.2 ppg)
• Avery is fourth in the MIAA in scoring and has scored ten or more points in all 26 games this season.
• Avery played for Loyla last season during their NCAA Final Four run.
• Avery is third in nation with 17 double-doubles and 12th with 10.5 rebounds per game.
• Ranked last in the MIAA in field goal percentage defense (.473). 
• First in the MIAA in free-throw percentage (78.2).
• Led by Northeastern State alumni, Tom Hankins who is in his fourth season at UCO.
• Hankins is 6-1 against NSU.

The Series With Emporia State

• 20th overall meeting.
• Northeastern State has won the last three of the last four meetings.
• At home, NSU is 5-3 and has won three of the last four meetings.

About the Hornets

• Heads into the week on a two-game skid.
• The roster features a pair of brothers, Kooper and Sawyer Glick.
• Both are graduate transfers from Barry (Fla.) and played in the 2018 Elite Eight.
• Kooper leads the MIAA in free throw percentage (90.0).
• Sawyer is seventh in the MIAA in average three-pointers per game (2.3).
• Emporia is second from the bottom of the MIAA in field goal percentage defense (46.6). 
• The team holds the 26th best free-throw percentage (77.4).
• Top five scorers all average over nine points a game.
• Led by first-year head coach Craig Doty.

Looking Back

• 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. 
• 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.