Game #15
Northeastern State (9-5, 2-3 MIAA) vs. Fort Hays State (6-6, 0-4 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. | NSU Event Center

Game #16
vs. Nebraska-Kearney (8-5, 2-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 11 at 3:30 p.m. | NSU Event Center

• Caleb Smith and Kendrick Thompson both have scored over 20 points in the last two games, with the pair averaging 49-points during that span. 
• Four of the next six games will be inside the NSU Event Center.  Following that stretch, NSU will play six of their final eight games on the road.
• Northeastern State has worn its gray uniforms in its last seven home games.  The lone time they wore white was in their home opener on Nov. 13 against Bacone. 
• In three of the last four games, NSU's opponent has tied or won the game in a final six seconds of regulation.
• Northeastern State leads the MIAA and is sixth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (37.9).  
• In MIAA play, Caleb Smith leads in overall points (99) and is averaging 19.8 a game.   He is second in average minutes played per outing in MIAA games with 36.4.
• Thompson is sixth against MIAA teams in scoring (15.2).
• Since joining the NSU starting lineup, Josh Ihek is averaging ten rebounds a game.  The next time he suits up, Ihek will play his 100th career game.

• Since joining the MIAA, the RiverHawks are 4-3 at home against the Tigers.
• Last year's win over FHSU snapped a four-game skid in favor of the Tigers.
• In league play, the Tigers hold an 8-5 advantage. 
• January meetings have favored the Tigers with Fort Hays winning four of the last five contests.
• Head Coach Mark Downey is 1-3 against Fort Hays State.

• Swept last weekend by #18 Missouri Southern (85-67) and Pitt State (79-68) at home. 
• Following a loss, this season, the Tigers are 3-2 overall and have lost their last three MIAA road contests.
• The Tigers have lost their last five NCAA Division II contests.  
• Ranked 16th nationally in free-throw percentage at 79%.
• Last in the MIAA in 3-pt. attempts (240). 
• Joins Washburn as the lone two teams in the MIAA to have the same starting lineup all season so far. 
• The Tigers have four players averaging over ten points a game with Jared Vitztum leading FHSU with 12 points and 7.2 rebounds a game.

• The Lopers have won the last five meetings in Tahlequah. 
• Last home win for NSU came on Jan. 16, 2014 (90-85).
• Northeastern State's win at Kearney last season snapped a nine-game winning streak in favor of the Lopers. 
• The last nine meetings have been decided within single digits. 
• Head Coach Mark Downey is 1-3 all-time against Nebraska-Kearney.

• First regular-season road contest since Dec. 5 at Emporia State.
• Split MIAA games last weekend with an overtime win (81-80) over Pitt State and an 89-77 loss to Missouri Southern at home.
• Will be facing Rogers State Thursday before visiting NSU on Saturday.
• In Oklahoma this season, UNK is 0-2 after opening the season with two losses in Shawnee. 
• The Lopers are last in the MIAA in field-goal defense with teams shooting 47.1-percent. 
• In rebounding, UNK is in the bottom-20 nationally with 31.9 boards a game.
• Morgan Soucie leads the Lopers with 15.7 points per game.  In MIAA games, Soucie is averaging 18.3 and is sixth in scoring. 
• Jake Walker is fifth overall in the MIAA in three-pointers per game with 2.5 made an outing. 

• A three-pointer with six seconds left in regulation by the Griffions forced overtime where they would best NSU.
• Caleb Smith had a career-high 30-points, and it was the first 30-point game since Feb. 2018 for the NSU basketball team.
• Only five players scored for NSU with their bench having a season-low seven points. 
• Josh Ihek and Iain McLaughlin matched career-high rebounding numbers.