Game #12
Northeastern State (2-9 MIAA) at Lincoln (6-3 MIAA)
Saturday, January 23 at 3 p.m. | Jefferson City, Mo. - Jason Gym

Game Coverage	goriverhawksgo.com/coverage.aspx
COVID-19 Protocols	LU Guidelines
NSU Game Notes	Game Notes
LU Game Notes	Game Notes
Live Audio	NSU Digital Network
Live Video	The MIAA Network

Opening Tip 

• After a late start to the season and with 11 games down in the books, the RiverHawks are one of a few NCAA Division II programs to make it to the official halfway point of the season.
• Luck has not been with the RiverHawks in several games this season, with seven losses coming inside of ten points.  
• In the last four games, NSU has led at the half.
• The RiverHawks have started the same five in the last six games.  However, for the first time since the 2015-16 season, NSU will not have a player start every game this season.
• Four members of the NSU basketball team has seen Lincoln before Saturday.  Troy Locke is NSU's leading returner to face Lincoln and had 12 points last season against the Blue Tigers.  Payton Guiot had seven points off the bench.  NSU's current leading scorer, Brad Davis, did not play the Blue Tigers last season due to injury. 
• Northeastern State is second NCAA Division II Men's Basketball with 282 free throw attempts and is second with 196 made free throws.
• Injuries, COVID-19, and personnel changes have limited the NSU roster this season.  Three of NSU's original starting five are out of the season.  Two additional players are out of the year due to injury, and three active players have missed a combined 11 games. 

NSU individual player notes are on page one of the game notes.

NSU's last five against Lincoln
1/23/2020    W, 90-71 (H)
1/24/2019    W, 80-72 (A)
1/6/2018    L, 77-66 (H)
1/7/2017    L, 81-65 (A)
1/30/2016    W, 93-81 (H)

The Series with Lincoln

• The RiverHawks lead the overall series 7-5 and are 3-3 at Lincoln.
• In seven of NSU's wins over Lincoln, six of them have come in pairs. Northeastern State has not won three straight over Lincoln.
• The pair have met once on a neutral floor, with NSU picking up a 70-63 on Dec. 10, 1982, in Joplin. 
• Head Coach Ja Havens has met Lincoln once as a head coach and is 0-1 against the Blue Tigers.

About the Blue Tigers

• The Blue Tigers suffered an 82-80 home setback at the hands of Rogers State on Thursday.  The loss is the first at home this season and snapped an eight-game streak for Lincoln.
• Lincoln has not lost consecutive home games since Feb. 2019, where they lost four in a row.
• Before the loss against Rogers State, Lincoln paused team activities due to COVID-19 and was off since Jan. 9, missing two games in the meantime. 
• At the free-throw line, the Blue Tigers are ranked last in the MIAA, shooting 65.7 percent.
• Sai Witt is ranked third in the MIAA with four double-doubles this season; he leads the association with 3.5 offensive boards a game. 
• Cameron Potts is seventh nationally in steals with 21. 

Looking Back

• Junior forward Trey Sampson highlighted the night for NSU with a career-high 26 point performance.  He also added six rebounds and three blocks.
• Obi Agu got hot late with three straight treys and finished the evening with 19 points, a career-high for the junior from London. 
• Brad Davis broke a 33-33 tie with a layup before the horn to give NSU a lead at the half for the fourth consecutive game.
• Sampson's 26 points are the highest this season among active NSU players and his second 20 point game.
• The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for NSU over the Mules, who lead the overall series 6-4.