Game #26
Northeastern State (16-9, 9-7 MIAA) at Nebraska-Kearney (15-9, 9-6 MIAA)
Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. | Kearney, Neb.

Game #27
Northeastern State at Fort Hays State (12-12, 5-10 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. | Hays, Kan.

• Northeastern State has clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament for the second straight season and for the sixth time overall.
• The RiverHawks are a half-game back of Nebraska-Kearney and Washburn, who is tied for fifth in the league standings. 
• At 16 wins, the RiverHawks have won its most games in a season since 2014. 
• The RiverHawks have 30 wins in the last two seasons, the four years prior, they had 28. 
• Including his sophomore season at Ranger JC, Caleb Smith has started in 84 straight games.  Heading into this week's games, the senior needs 103 points to reach 1,000 at Northeastern State.  Saturday's game is expected to be his 100th overall.  
• Josh Ihek is second in the MIAA and 33rd nationally with 39 blocks.  Ihek is best in league play with 2.1 blocks a game.
• Kendrick Thompson is tied for fifth with Smith in the MIAA in scoring with 17.4 points a game.  
• The RiverHawks are 22nd nationally and second in the MIAA with just 11.3 turnovers a game.
• Northeastern State leads the MIAA and is fourth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (39.6).
• On the offensive glass, NSU is tops in conference play with 10.5 boards a game. 

• The Lopers have won two straight against the RiverHawks and overcame a 14-point deficit to beat NSU in overtime the last time these two teams faced each other. 
• NSU's win at UNK last season snapped a nine-game skid against the Lopers.
• The RiverHawks have not won back-to-back visits to UNK.
• Head Coach Mark Downey is 1-4 all-time when facing the Lopers.
• All four losses to the Lopers under Downey are single digit. 

• Lopers are 11-1 at home this season and winners of their last four games in Kearney.
• Has lost four of their last seven games.  
• Last in the MIAA in total rebounds and in the bottom-15 nationally. 
• Ranked third against MIAA programs with 68.5 points allowed per game, just one point better than NSU.
• Against MIAA teams, foes are shooting 47.9-percent, which is the third-highest this season.
• Tops in the MIAA with 14.8 turnovers forced a game.
• AJ Jackson holds the 14th best field goal percentage (62.3) and is averaging 14.3 points a game.
• Morgan Soucie paces the Lopers with 16.5 points a game and is averaging 17.7 points against MIAA teams (fourth-best).

• The RiverHawks have won the last two games in the overall series. 
• NSU has not won three consecutive times over the Tigers.
• At Hays, NSU has lost the six games, with their last win coming on Feb. 28, 2014 (75-72). 
• Last year's meeting on the road was a four-point game in favor of the Tigers (69-65).
• In five meetings with the Tigers, head coach Mark Downey has won twice. 

• Will play #23-ranked Rogers State before facing the RiverHawks.
• Saw a five-game winning streak snapped at Lincoln last Saturday.
• The Tigers are 8-3 at home this season and have won four in a row. 
• Ranked 17th nationally in fewest overall turnovers. 
• Fort Hays State is 28th nationally with a 77.3 free-throw percentage. 
• Has four players who have started all games played this season.
• The Tigers have four players averaging over ten points a game with Jared Vitztum leading FHSU with 14 points and 7.7 rebounds a game.
• Since inserting Calvin Harrington into the starting lineup, the Tigers are 5-2. 

• The RiverHawks split games last week, falling to Washburn and beating Emporia State. 
• Kendrick Thompson hit a go-ahead trey for the RiverHawks to beat Emporia State on Senior Day.
• Thompson was held to one point against Washburn but had 28 against Emporia State.
• Aaron Givens played his 100th game last Saturday.