Northeastern State vs. Central Missouri  Thursday, Jan. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | NSU Event Center
Records	Northeastern State (8-8, 3-8 MIAA) • Central Missouri (7-7, 4-6 MIAA)
Game Notes	Northeastern State • Central Missouri
Listen	Steve Braun (play-by-play) NSU Digital Network
Watch	The MIAA Network
Live Stats	NSU Live Stats
Tickets	Tickets Available at Gate | NSU Ticketing
Social Media	@RiverHawksMBB  | @RiverHawksMBB  | Facebook

The Setup

• Following a nine-day layoff, the RiverHawks return to the floor Thursday to host Central Missouri for the fifth time in program history, looking to halt a three-game skid and build some momentum into the regular season's final month. 
• Saturday's postponement with Rogers State does not have a makeup date scheduled yet.  

Last Time Out

Missouri Southern 72, at Northeastern State 71 | Jan. 11, 2022 | Tahlequah

• Northeastern State had four in double-figures, but they were upended late by Missouri Southern 72-71.
• Despite being out-shot and out-rebounded, Missouri Southern left with the win leading for just 1:01.  Turnovers plagued NSU throughout the night but proved to be even more costly in the final five minutes, where Southern forced three. 
• The dagger turned out to be NSU's 15th miscue on the night with 37 seconds remaining that led to the eventual game-winning basket. 
• Emeka Obukwelu had a game-high 20 points and turned in his second consecutive double-double with ten rebounds. 

Storylines

• Emeka Obukwelu has scored at least ten points in the last 14 games and is sixth overall in the MIAA, averaging 16.8 points per game.  Nationally speaking, Obukwelu is among the top-100 in seven statistical categories.  He is the only player in the Division II men's basketball with a pair of 20 rebound games this season, and is second in the MIAA with 9.3 boards per outing.  
• Rashad Perkins has turned into one of the top scoring threats in the MIAA off the bench this season, averaging 13.7 points per game.  At Missouri Western, his 40 points were the most for an NSU men's basketball player since 2014 and tied for the most in the game this season in the MIAA.  Perkins has been sent to the line 69 times, which is fifth most in the MIAA.
• Christian Cook has scored in double-figures in the last 12 games for NSU.  He has scored at least ten in 20 of the previous 21 contests, going back to last season.  In his short career at NSU so far, Cook has 424 points scored in 36 games.
• Tylor Arnold has two double-double games this season for NSU and is fourth in points (8.1), second in rebounding (5.6), and tied for first in overall assists (44). Arnold played for head coach Ja Havens for three seasons at East Central (Okla.) and was on the top-10 list for career minutes played, career steals, and career throw percentage.  
• Northeastern State men's basketball set an attendance record during Thanksgiving break, with 2,231 fans attending their game against Haskell.  The number is good for the ninth-most in NCAA Division II basketball this season. 
• The RiverHawks has made a three-pointer in 112 consecutive games.  Feb. 2, 2017 against Southwest Baptist is the last time NSU did not make a three going 0-16.
• In October, Northeastern State was picked to finish in 13th place in both the MIAA Coaches and Media Polls.
• The 2021-22 season is the 93rd for men's basketball at Northeastern State.
• The RiverHawks are entering their tenth season as members of the MIAA and 25th season as an NCAA Division II program.

About Central Missouri

• Due to COVID protocols for Newman, Central Missouri has been idle for a week.  Since 2020, the UCM men's program has not had a COVID postponement due to their program.
• The Mules are ranked 13th nationally in fewest turnovers per game at 10.1 and are ranked first in the MIAA with 8.2 steals per game.  Through 14 games, UCM is +7.3 per game on points off turnovers, averaging 16.5 per outing.  
• Ja'Cor Nelson is ranked 25th nationally with 33 steals and is fifth in the MIAA with 6.7 rebounds per game. 
• Central Missouri is last in the MIAA in nearly everything around the three-point arc. Teams are shooting 37.4-percent at the arc on the Mules' defense while they are shooting a mere 28.9-percent.  In the previous four games, teams have averaged 13 three-pointers and allowed 19 against Emporia State on Jan. 3, which was tied for seventh most in a game this season in D2 men's basketball.

Last Time They Met

at Central Missouri 89, Northeastern State 82 | Jan. 21, 2021 | Warrensburg

• The RiverHawks led at the half, but a hot start to the second half by Central Missouri downed them 89-82 on the road.
• Things turned on a dime on NSU quickly in the second half, with Central Missouri not missing on their side of the court and lit up a 27-6 run on the RiverHawks.  At the peak, the Mules scored 12 unanswered points.  
• NSU didn't go down quietly and managed to get the game back inside single digits, but the Mules iced the game late at the free-throw line.
• One of two times last season NSU wore a green uniform.

Series Notes

Northeastern State trails 4-6 | 3-2 at home | 0-4 in Warrensburg | 1-0 neutral 

• Northeastern State and Central Missouri have only met as MIAA members.
• The two teams met once in the MIAA Tournament in 2014, with the RiverHawks winning 84-82.  The win was #280 at NSU and the final one for Northeastern State Hall of Fame Head Coach Larry Gipson. 
• Northeastern State has averaged 71.7 points in ten meetings with the Mules.
• UCM head coach Doug Karleskint is 2-2 when facing Northeastern State in Tahlequah.