TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State had three in double-figures, but an icy cold start handed them a 79-65 setback to Emporia State Thursday evening.
The RiverHawks shot just10-for-30 in the first half and allowed an 11-2 ESU run to start the game. Northeastern State struggled to keep the game within 12 points the rest of the way, with the Hornets leading from horn-to-horn.
Emeka Obukwelu paced the RiverHawks with 16 points,
Christian Cook had 15 and six assists,
Dillon Bailey added 13.
Emporia State (16-5,11-4 MIAA) dropped 12 three-pointers on NSU and shot 53.6-percent. Tray Buchanan, who leads the nation in scoring, had a game-high 32 points and hit his fifth three-pointer of the night with 13 seconds remaining.
Tylor Arnold paced NSU with six rebounds.
Obi Agu and
Edra Luster both scored six points off the bench. The RiverHawks shot 40-percent (22-55), their lowest in the last eight games.
The loss drops the RiverHawks to 10-11 (5-11 MIAA); they will remain at home to host Washburn on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
