ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (Jan. 2, 2023) – What looked like a runaway win for Northeastern State with 13 minutes left ended in last-second drama, but Dillon Bailey saved the basketball game for the RiverHawks.

Bailey – who had missed his two previous free throws – drained a pair with 0.6 of a second left to give NSU a 75-73 win over Missouri Western on Monday night at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Bailey and Christian Cook each scored 18 points and Rashad Perkins added 16 for NSU (7-4, 4-3 MIAA), which had won only one of its previous eight games at Missouri Western (7-5, 3-3) – and hadn't won there since Feb. 3, 2013.

The RiverHawks shot 53.8 percent (28 of 52) from the field and 11 of 22 (50 percent) from 3-point range and never trailed. When Perkins drained a 3-pointer with 13:04 left, NSU led 59-35.

But the Griffons stormed back. Bailey, who entered the game shooting 82 percent from the free-throw line, missed the front end of one-and-one opportunities with 17.2 seconds and 14.2 seconds left. Missouri Western rebounded the second miss and Julius Dixon was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer. He made two of the three free throws to pull his team within 73-70.

Will Eames then stole NSU's ensuing inbounds pass and Dixon hit a tying 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left.

NSU quickly inbounded the ball to Bailey, who began dribbling but was fouled in the backcourt by Missouri Western's Reese Glover. Bailey made both free throws and the Griffons weren't able to get off a desperation shot before the buzzer.

Dixon finished with 16 points while Taye Fields led the Griffons with 19 points and nine rebounds. For NSU, Cook had seven assists and six rebound to go with his 18 points.

NSU will return home for its next two games, on Thursday against Central Oklahoma and on Saturday against Newman (Kan.).