TAHLEQUAH -- Emeka Obukwelu paced Northeastern State with a 31-point performance as they blew past Arlington Baptist 96-60 Tuesday evening in the RiverHawks home opener.  

The RiverHawks (2-1) had ten players scoring with three in double-figures overall.  Christian Cook had 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting, and Rashad Perkins had 12 points and five assists off the bench. 

Obukwelu was 12-for-17 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds as the RiverHawks dominated the glass 44-to-28.  

The RiverHawks shot out like a cannon and took a commanding 20 point lead on Arlington Baptist; a scoring lull midway through the half would allow the Patriots to narrow the gap down to single digits.  NSU closed out the half with the momentum scoring ten unanswered with three players in double-figures.  Obukwelu paced NSU with 23 points on 8-for-10 shooting.

Cook set the tone to open the second half with a dunk as the RiverHawks pulled away as many as 36 points on the Patriots.

Northeastern State shot 50-percent on the night (35-70) and sank 13 treys.  In their NSU debuts, Wil McCoy scored eight points, and Shakeil Bertrand had five points and two blocks.

Da'vione Stafford led Arlington Baptist (1-4) with15 points. 

The RiverHawks will be in Oklahoma City to face Oklahoma Christian this Saturday at 5 p.m.