Game #17
Northeastern State (10-6, 3-4 MIAA) at Central Oklahoma (7-9, 4-3 MIAA)
Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. | Edmond

Game #18
at Newman (7-9, 1-6 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3:30 p.m. | Wichita, Kan.

Game Coverage	goriverhawksgo.com/coverage.aspx
NSU Game Notes	Game Notes
Live Audio	NSU Digital Network & Billy Country 96.3
Live Video	The MIAA Network

Opening Tip 

• Kendrick Thompson has scored at least 20-points in the last four contests and is averaging 24.3 points during that span.  In MIAA play, the senior is tenth in scoring with 18.1 points a game and needs 115 points to reach 1,000 in his overall career.
• Caleb Smith recorded his 750th point at NSU in his 45th game as a RiverHawk.  He leads the team in starts with 45 and has hit double-digit scoring in the last 11 games. 
• Since joining the NSU starting lineup, Josh Ihek is averaging 9.5 rebounds 2.75 blocks a game.   
• Saturday will be homecoming game for Smith, who originally hailed from Wichita and played his freshman year at Southeast High School.
• The Northeastern State bench is averaging 9.5 points in the last four games. 
• In four of the last six games, NSU's opponent has tied or won the game in a final minute of regulation.
• Northeastern State leads the MIAA and is seventh nationally in field-goal percentage defense (39.2).

The Series with Central Okla.

• One of the oldest series for NSU with its first meeting coming during the 1924-25 season.
• Central leads the series 89-51.
• Since joining the MIAA, the Bronchos lead the series 10-4.
• Head Coach Mark Downey is 3-3 against UCO.
• NSU has not won back-to-back games in Edmond since Jan. 4, 2004.
• UCO Head Coach Bob Hoffman is 7-3 all-time against Northeastern State.

About the Bronchos

• Winners of four of their last five contests and are 4-1 at home this season.
• Against teams from Oklahoma, they are 2-5.
• Lead the MIAA and free throw attempts and free throw made.
• Bottom-5 nationally in three-pointers made per game. 
• Last in the conference in turnover margin at -2.0. 
• Dashawn McDowell leads the Bronchos in scoring with 13.0 points a game.  Central has four players averaging over eight points a game. 
• Roster features ten from Oklahoma.

The Series with Newman

• First visit to Newman since Nov. 12, 2011.  In the meeting, the Jets took their lone game in the overall series, 47-46. 
• The last meeting with the Jets was the inaugural MIAA contest for the program.
• Head Coach Mark Downey is 2-0 all-time against the Jets.

About the Jets

• The Jets will be playing Rogers State prior to facing NSU on Saturday. 
• Since playing NSU, the Jets are 1-5 against D2 programs and have lost three of their last four games.  On their home court, Newman is 6-2 this season.
• Ranked sixth nationally in three-point defense and paces the MIAA in total steals (123).
• Jets are last in the league in turnovers (15.4) and take the second-fewest three-point attempts. 
• Roster features two players from Oklahoma.
• Marshawn Blackmon leads the MIAA in rebounding 9.9 and has ten double-doubles this season, which is third-most nationally. 

Looking Back

• The RiverHawks were taken to overtime for the second time in six days and fell to Neb.-Kearney. 
• NSU led as many as 13-points in the second half.
• In the final 25 minutes, the Lopers shot 61.1-percent from the field and were 8-for-13 at the arc.  Northeastern State held the lead over 38 minutes.
• Kendrick Thompson recorded his fifth 20-point game to pace NSU with 22 points.