Game #13
Northeastern State (9-3, 2-1 MIAA) at (2) Northwest Missouri (11-1, 1-1 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 4 at 3:30 p.m. | Maryville, Mo.

Game #14
at Missouri Western (5-8, 1-1 MIAA)
Monday, Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. | St. Joseph, Mo.

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 has played with the same starting five in all their regular-season games this season.  The RiverHawks, Fort Hays State, and Washburn are lone teams in the MIAA to have the same starting lineup in all their regular season games. 
• Ten of the final 16 games in the regular-season for the RiverHawks will be on the road.
• The RiverHawks have dropped their last two contests in the first game of the new calendar year. 
• Last two contests for NSU have been decided in the final possession by the opposing team. 
• The RiverHawks are 2-0 when playing on Monday this season.
• Northeastern State leads the MIAA and is third nationally in field-goal percentage defense (37.3).  They also pace the league in points allowed per game (61.3), which is fifth nationally. 
• NSU is 17th in the nation in scoring margin (16.2) and third in the MIAA.
• Aaron Givens is fourth in the MIAA with 18 blocks. 
• Caleb Smith is ninth in the MIAA, with 181 total points.

The Series with Northwest Missouri

• Bearcats have won ten straight times over NSU.
• In Bearcat Arena, the RiverHawks are 0-3 overall. 
• Northeastern State's lone win in the series came in the 2000 NCAA Tournament (60-56).
• Bearcats have averaged 100 points in the last three meetings.
• Fourth straight meeting with Northwest ranked in the top-2 nationally. 
• Head Coach Mark Downey is 1-2 against Northwest.

About the Bearcats

• Bearcats have spent 21 straight weeks ranked in the top five in the NABC Poll
• Northwest holds a 23 game winning streak at home, which is sixth-longest across all divisions.
• With 8.9 turnovers per game, the Bearcats are ranked first nationally in limiting turnovers. 
• Bearcats are shooting 53.3-percent from the field, which is third-highest nationally.
• Senior Ryan Welty is the nation's active career leader in three-point field goal percentage among NCAA Division II players (.510).
• Ryan Hawkins leads the Bearcats in scoring averaging 24 points per game.

The Series with Missouri Western

• In the last eight meetings between the two teams, the series is split.
• The Griffions have won the last two meetings.
• NSU has lost three consecutive at Missouri Western with their last win coming on Feb. 2, 2013 (73-61).
• The last three meetings have been decided by six points. 
• Head Coach Mark Downey is 0-3 all-time against Missouri Western.

About the Griffons

• The Griffons will host Rogers State on Saturday prior to facing NSU. 
• Lost three straight heading into Christmas and are 3-0 at home.  
• Despite being undefeated at home this season, they are 4-3 locally after opening the year with four straight games at the St. Joseph Civic Arena.
• Ranked 11th nationally and first in the MIAA in three-point attempts. 
• Near the bottom in the nation in three-point defense. 
• With 57 blocks, they lead the league and are 12th nationally. 
• Tyus Millhollin leads the MIAA with 39 made three-pointers. 
• Tyrell Carroll paced the MIAA with 2.45 steals per game.

Looking Back

• Brad Davis had a career-high (at NSU) with 24 points against Rogers State on Dec. 20. 
• A three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left on the clock handed NSU their second straight loss. 
• NSU was limited to 20-points in the second half, which was a low under a Mark Downey led team. 
• The RiverHawks slipped out of the NABC Top-25 poll with two losses prior to the winter break.