Game #18
Northeastern State (2-15 MIAA) at Central Oklahoma (10-7 MIAA)
Saturday, February 20 at 3:30 p.m. | Edmond, Okla. - Hamilton Field House

Game #19
Northeastern State vs. Central Oklahoma 
Sunday, February 21 at 3:30 p.m. | Tahlequah, Okla. - NSU Event Center

 

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

Opening Tip 

• Northeastern State and intrastate rivals Central Oklahoma will play back-to-back games over the weekend.  Saturday's game is an initially scheduled contest.  Sunday's in Tahlequah is a makeup game from Jan. 9 that was originally set for Monday but bumped up a day due to scheduling conflicts for both teams.
• This is the first time since 1999 that NSU and UCO have played on consecutive days.
• At Newman Thursday, it was the first time since Jan. 30, the RiverHawks had its entire coach staff together on the bench.  Retired head coach Larry Gipson (1997-2014) supervised practices for the program while the whole coaching staff was under COVID-19 protocols. 
• Luck has not been with the RiverHawks in several games this season, with ten losses coming inside ten points and two overtime setbacks. 
  The RiverHawks have started the same five in the last 11 games.  However, for the first time since the 2015-16 season, NSU will not have a player start every game this season.
• With the schedule changes this season, the majority of the NSU squad has not faced UCO.  Of the returning group, Troy Locke has averaged over ten points in two bouts with the 'Chos.
  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 players are out of the year due to injury, and three active players have missed a combined 11 games.   Additionally, NSU played two games without its head coach.

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

NSU's last five at UCO
1/15/2020    W, 58-56 
2/26/2019    W, 74-71 
1/20/2018    L, 60-87 
12/3/2016    L, 58-91 
2/6/2016      L, 66-70 

NSU's last five against UCO in Tahlequah
12/7/2019    W, 80-68
2/9/2019      L, 67-78 
12/5/2017    L, 71-82
1/21/2017    L, 50-66  
12/19/2015  W, 92-73

The Series with Central Oklahoma

• The oldest active series for the RiverHawks that dates back to 1925.
• Northeastern State has won the last three games in the series, its longest since winning 11 consecutive from 2000-05.
• Northeastern State is the first team to play at UCO's Hamilton Field House (Jan. 8, 1965).
• Inside Hamilton Field House, NSU is 16-25 overall and has won the last two meetings on UCO's home floor.
• NSU downed the Bronchos, 83-71, in overtime to close Jack Dobbins Field House on Feb. 27, 2013.
• In MIAA play, the RiverHawks trail the series 6-10.
• Head Coach Ja Havens has not faced Central Oklahoma; he did play them twice during his senior season at NSU

About the Bronchos

• The Bronchos head into the weekend winners of seven of their last nine contests.
• Like NSU, they will have a busy final days of the regular season, with the contest starting the first of five games within eight days.
• Second in the MIAA in rebounding with 36.8 boards a game. 
• Lead the association in fouls with 284.
• Isaiah Wade is second in the MIAA in double-doubles (7) and is 12th in scoring this season with 14.4 points per game.  He is second in the league in rebounds with 9.6 boards per game.
• Roster features ten from the State of Oklahoma. 
• UCO Head Coach Bob Hoffman is 7-4 all-time against Northeastern State.

Scheduling Shuffle

• Three of the next five games in the regular season are a result of postponements.
• Due to COVID-19 testing protocols and scheduling conflicts for both teams, NSU will play Central Oklahoma on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 3:30 p.m.
• A makeup date with Emporia State has been set for Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.
• The RiverHawks will play nearly one-fourth of their schedule in the final eight days of the regular season.
• In the 22 games regular-season schedule, the RiverHawks will have six that were postponed.