Mallory Semrow

NSU visits #13 Southern and Pitt State

1/28/2020 2:53:00 PM

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

Northeastern State will be playing six of their next eight games on the road.
Including his sophomore season at Ranger JC, Caleb Smith has started in 79 straight games. Heading into this week's games, the senior needs 169 points to reach 1,000 at Northeastern State.
The next appearance for Smith and Bradley George will be their 50th in an NSU uniform.
Troy Locke has led the NSU bench in scoring in six of the previous seven contests.
Josh Ihek is second in the MIAA with 28 blocks, 18 of which in the last eight games, also the same time frame he joined the NSU starting lineup.
Kendrick Thompson is tenth in the MIAA in scoring with 16.4 points a game.
NSU's starting lineup has only changed once this season, with four players starting in all games.
The RiverHawks are 22nd nationally and second in the MIAA with just 11.3 turnovers a game.
Northeastern State leads the MIAA and is sixth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (39.5).

The Series with Southern

NSU has won the last two of the last three in the series, but it was from the comforts of their home court.
Head Coach Mark Downey is 2-1 against the Lions. The first meeting under Downey at NSU with the Lions resulted in a 78-48 win for the RiverHawks. It was the first 30-point loss for Southern since March. 1, 2007
The RiverHawks have lost four straight at MOSO with their last win coming on Jan. 26, 2013 (73-54).

About the Lions

Winners of their last 25 at home with their last loss coming on Jan. 17, 2017 to Washburn (86-78).
The Lions lead the MIAA in scoring offense with 85.9 points a game, assists per game (16.8), and rebound margin (+9.0)
MOSO has three on their roster that are inside the top-17 in their program's all-time scoring list. All three are from Oklahoma as well. Edmond native Elyjah Clark has the 15th most active points in Division II men's basketball with 1,620. Yukon's Cam Martin has 1,114 points in his second playing season at MOSO, and paces averages 21.9-points against MIAA teams. Owasso's Kinzer Lambert has 1,233 career points.
Martin leads the MIAA in free-throws (116) and free-throws made (91).

The Series with Pitt State

This will be the 76th meeting in the 93-year old series.
Pitt State is 34-9 on their home court with NSU's last win coming on Nov. 21, 2001 (65-60).
At home, the RiverHawks are 14-17 and winners of their last two against the Gorillas.
The RiverHawks have not beaten the Gorillas back-to-back times side the mid-1980s.
Head Coach Mark Downey is 2-1 all-time against Pitt State.

About the Gorillas

The Gorillas will be playing Rogers State prior to facing NSU on Saturday.
Pitt has lost five of their last six at home. Their last four overall losses have come within seven points, with two being a single point.
The Gorillas do not have a player on their roster that has started every game.
Last in the MIAA in turnovers per game (14.9) and scoring defense (74.9).
Second in the MIAA in offensive rebounding (11.3 rpg).
After missing the first seven games of the season, A.J. Walker leads the Gorillas in scoring with 18.4 points per game. He has paced the Gorillas in scoring in four of the last five contests he has played.
Christian Edmondson leads the MIAA with 3.2 offensive rebounds per game.

Looking Back

Northeastern State never trailed in their games last week.
DeVonta Prince was featured on ESPN SportsCenter Top-Plays for his dunk on Jan. 23 against Lincoln.
The NSU bench was out-scored 37-to-15 by Central Missouri, a season-high. But out-rebounded the Mules by 20, the most against at NCAA Division II program under Downey.
Smith matched his career-high with 30-points against Central Missouri.