EDMOND, Okla. (Feb. 18, 2023) – Northeastern State cut a double-digit halftime deficit to three points but No. 9/10-ranked Central Oklahoma used a 12-0 run to pull away for a 67-52 win on Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Field House.

Dillon Bailey scored 14 points to lead NSU (10-14, 7-13 MIAA). With one week remaining in the regular season, the RiverHawks are in a three-way battle with Missouri Western and Central Missouri for the final two spots in the MIAA's postseason basketball tournament.

Missouri Western, with a 7-12 conference record, will host three home games next week in a four-day span starting Wednesday, facing Newman (Kan.), Nebraska-Kearney and Pittsburg State (Kan.). Central Missouri (7-13 in MIAA play) will have road game at Rogers State on Thursday and at NSU next Saturday. NSU also will host Lincoln (Mo.) on Thursday.

For a seventh straight game, NSU was limited to eight players due to injuries, but the RiverHawks stayed competitive for long stretches against one of NCAA Division II's top teams on Saturday. UCO (23-3, 17-3) broke a 14-14 tie with a 14-4 run in the first half and led 34-24 at halftime, but the Bronchos struggled to pull away.

The RiverHawks twice pulled within four points in the opening five minutes of the second half and came within 39-36 on a layup by Christian Cook with 12:31 left. UCO then scored the next 12 points – in less than 2½ minutes – to build its lead to 51-36 and NSU came no closer than six points the rest of the way.

UCO finished with a 15-0 advantage in second-chance points, as the Bronchos had 11 offensive rebounds to only two for NSU.

Cook and Tylor Arnold added 10 points for the RiverHawks. Three UCO players scored in double figures – Danquez Dawey (16 points, four assists), Curtis Haywood II (14 points, five assists) and Jaden Wells (12 points, eight rebounds).