TAHLEQUAH – Trent Cantrell and Caleb Smith both had 18 points but the RiverHawks could not slow down Central Oklahoma in the second half in a 78-67 loss on Saturday.
 
Smith was a rebound short of a double-double as the RiverHawks dropped its second straight to fall to 12-10, 6-7 MIAA.
 
Northeastern State had to fight their way out of a hole with Central Oklahoma (10-12, 3-10 MIAA) scoring 11 straight to open the game.   Cantrell would heat up for the RiverHawks and dropped four treys as they managed to claw their way back in within three by the half. 
 
After trading points out of the locker room, NSU would pull ahead by four (41-37) following a three from Smith at the 14:41 mark.   However, the RiverHawks' offense would run out of gas at the midway mark in the second half as the 'Chos went on a 12-2 run to break a 47-47 tie.  NSU would not recover the rest of the way.
 
"We put ourselves in a hole," said head coach Mark Downey.  "We turned the ball over way too much, we weren't very smart with the ball.  We are doing a lot of watching and I don't know if we are tired or what."
 
"Our best players aren't playing well, they are forcing it.  We got to go back to the drawing board and figure something out. "
 
After outshooting teams for eight straight, the RiverHawks have been out-shot in their last two going 39.7-percent on the floor (23-58).  The Central Oklahoma bench would provide the most damage of the game, outscoring NSU 29-to-8. 
 
TIP-INS
Rebounds were even at 35 … NSU has not been out rebounded in its last 11 contests … fourth straight double-figure game for Cantrell … sixth straight win for Central Oklahoma over NSU.
 
COMING UP
Northeastern State will head to Topeka, Kan. next to face Washburn on Feb. 14 for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.