ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – A late Missouri Western three-pointer to force overtime led the RiverHawks to their four consecutive loss Monday night falling to the Griffons 76-71.
The loss spoiled a career game for
Caleb Smith, who had 30-points on 11-for-24 shooting with seven boards. The 30-point effort for Smith is the most since Jamir Andrews scored 39 against Washburn on Feb. 24, 2018, since the Event Center.
Kendrick Thompson added 22-points with the RiverHawks having five players in the scoring column.
The loss dropped the RiverHawks to 9-5 overall and 2-3 in the MIAA. Missouri Western improves to 7-8 and 3-1 in league play.
After leading as many as eight points in the mid-stages of the first half, a scoring lull allowed the Griffons to use a 9-2 run to overtake the RiverHawks, 23-18, following the under-5 media timeout. A 7-2 run by NSU pulled them back even at 25-25 with just over 90 seconds to the half. Despite shooting 32.4-percent from the field and going 2-for-14 at the arc, the RiverHawks only trailed 27-26 thanks in-part to 17 points scored off Griffon turnovers.
Smith and Thompson accounted for the majority of the NSU scoring, with both seniors scoring nine points.
A cold start to the second half for MWSU and the hot-handed Smith guided the RiverHawks back out in front quickly. Smith scored ten points inside of the first eight minutes of the half to bring his total up to 19. With 13:50 left in regulation, NSU held a 42-34 advantage on the Griffions.
NSU cooled, and a 10-2 run by the Griffons pulled the game back even at 44-44 with under nine to go. Both teams traded shots, but it would be the RiverHawks holding a 62-59 lead heading into the final seconds. Much like the final two games before the Christmas break, a team would hit a three, but this time it was to tie with six seconds to go to force NSU into overtime for the second time this season.
Trailing 66-63 with 3:20 left in overtime, Smith pulled NSU back even with a trey that surpassed his career-high mark with 27 points. The Griffons returned the favor with a three of their own and an NSU turnover will give them a five-point swing to end the RiverHawks chances.
The RiverHawks out-rebounded the Griffons by seven with 48 boards.
Josh Ihek, on a career-high 41 minutes, pulled down 12 to lead NSU.
Iain McLaughlin left with nine, which was a career mark for the junior.
Northeastern State will have a short turnaround this week and will return to action on Thursday to face Fort Hays State inside the Event Center.
