MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Northeastern State saw a four-game winning streak snapped at the hands of #2/2-ranked Northwest Missouri, 86-74, Thursday evening in both teams' MIAA opener. 

The Bearcats took advantage of foul trouble to crucial NSU starters and a 14-4 run to start the second half to move to 7-1 overall (1-0 MIAA). 

NSU had four starters in double-figures, with Christian Cook leading the team with 17 points.  Dillon Bailey had a season-high 14-points, Emeka Obukwelu scored 12, and Tylor Arnold added 11. 

Due to fouls, Arnold was limited to 14 minutes; Obukwelu played 24 but hit his fourth with over 15 minutes remaining in the second half. 

The RiverHawks kept the Northwest lead inside ten points through the first half and trailed by five with 31 seconds left.   On their final possession, an and-one bucket in-favor of the Bearcats gave them a 34-26 lead into the locker room. 

Northwest opened the second half with five unanswered points in the opening 30 seconds and held onto a double-digit lead the rest of the way. 

Northeastern State (5-2, 0-1 MIAA) shot 50-percent on 25-for-50 shooting but were out-rebounded 38-to-23 by the Bearcats.  On second-chance points, Northwest held a 14-3 advantage. 

The Bearcats' Trevor Hudgins paced Northwest with a game-high 26 points. 

On Saturday, the RiverHawks head to Missouri Western to face the Griffons for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.