TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State is at the NSU Event Center to meet Emporia State (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.) and Washburn (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.).

NSU will seek to pick up their first conference win at home after splitting the previous week's matchups on the road.

The Setup
- Ja Havens is in his fourth season as the head men's basketball coach at Northeastern State and his eleventh season overall as a head coach. 
- The RiverHawks are in their 12th season as members of the MIAA and 27th season as an NCAA Division II program.  
- Northeastern State is at home for the next three meetings, their longest homestand in league action in the 2023-24 campaign.

Storylines
- Ethan Blackmon had an eventful two-game road trip, as the freshman had the first double-double of his collegiate career against Missouri Southern with 19 points and ten rebounds to lead the team in both and provide a massive boost in the 79-72 win over the Lions in Joplin. Blackmon scored ten points on Saturday against Pitt State to make it into double figures for the fourth time in his last five.
- Trey Quartlebaum led the team in scoring last week with 38 points, scoring 18 on Missouri Southern before logging 20 at Pittsburg State. The scoring total against the Gorillas is his second-best of the season and the highest he's recorded against a conference opponent on the campaign.
- Keon Edwards continued to make an impact on the box score, scoring seven points in the last two minutes against MSSU with 16 on the night, while he reached double figures for a third straight game with 11 against Pittsburg State during the weekend meeting.
- After a sluggish week at the NSU Event Center on the offensive side, the RiverHawks returned to form last week with 152 points over last week's contests in Joplin and Pittsburg paired with 56-of-116  (48.3%) shooting.
- Northeastern State took a +6 result on the glass against Missouri Southern, their first victory in rebounding since Jan. 13 on Newman. 
- NSU will aim to bounce back on the defensive end after surrendering 15 three-pointers to the Gorillas on Saturday, their most since Feb. 23, 2021 against Washburn.
- Visiting The Nest will be the conference's top offense in Washburn (79.3) and the MIAA's sixth-ranked group in Emporia State (75.2). Both teams rank in the middle of the field in defense, with the Hornets in seventh (69.1 PAPG) and the Ichabods in eighth (71.1).
- NSU's 2-11 record is four games back from Emporia State and Missouri Southern at 6-7, who share a spot residing at the postseason cut-line. 

Northeastern State vs. Emporia State // February 1 at 7:30 p.m. // Live Coverage

About Emporia State (13-8, 6-7 MIAA)
- Nearly two months after hosting the RiverHawks as one of the nation's top 25 teams, the Hornets have fallen back to earth with losses in five of their most recent seven. 
- Craig Doty is in his sixth season leading the program. A three-time Coach of the Year and three-time National Champion, Doty led the team to their first back-to-back 20+ win seasons at the Division II level in 2021-22 and 2022-23. 
- Four players enter the week with at least 13.9 PPG, led by Alijah Comithier (17.3 PPG). Comithier has hit double figures in four straight ,with 21 against Fort Hays State on Saturday. 
- Three players scored at least 21 against NSU in the initial meeting on Dec. 9, led by Comithier's 28-point total.

Last Time They Met
Emporia State 89, Northeastern State 77 | Dec. 9, 2023 | Emporia, Kan.

- After a close 42-37 opening half favoring the hosts, NSU started the second on a 9-3 run to hold a one-point nod over ESU, but they couldn't hang on as the Hornets controlled the remainder of the way.
- Despite the loss, the RiverHawks had a more efficient shooting game, with a 51.8% (29-of-56) clip to ESU's 33-of-66 (50.0%). 
- Trey Quartlebaum led five NSU players in double figures with 19.

Series Notes
- ESU controls the all-time series with a 20-11 advantage over NSU.
- The Hornets have won seven straight to hold the longest winning streak for either team across the series. 
- The RiverHawks will aim for their first home win against ESU since Feb. 15, 2020.

Northeastern State at Washburn  // February 3 at 3:30 p.m. // Live Coverage

About Washburn (13-6, 9-4 MIAA)
- The Ichabods have a road date with Rogers State before they go to the NSU Event Center.
- WU has won four of their last five, with three wins decided by single digits. 
- Brett Ballard is in his seventh season leading the program. Under his leadership, the Ichabods have reached the MIAA Tournament Championship game in four of the last six seasons. Prior to coming to Topeka, Ballard spent time as an assistant at the NCAA Division I level with stints at Wake Forest (2014-17) and Tulsa (2012-14), in addition to two seasons as the head men's basketball coach at Baker (2010-12) from the NAIA ranks. 
- Andrew Orr (13.7) and newcomer Sam Ungashick (13.3 PPG) have provided a good scoring duo to WU's starting five, while Jack Bachelor averages 12.4 PPG primarily in a role with the second unit.

Last Time They Met
Washburn 84, Northeastern State 48 | Dec. 19, 2023 | Topeka, Kan.

- Northeastern State never led in the game after falling behind to a 7-0 run in the opening 3:04.
- Ethan Blackmon scored 14 to highlight NSU's offensive weapons in the game.
- Seth Pratt had six rebounds in the setback to lead the team in boards while scoring 11.

Series Notes
- Washburn leads 12-10 over Northeastern State all-time in the series.
- WU has claimed two consecutive over NSU.
- The series dates back to 2003, when the teams first met in the 2003 NCAA Division II tournament in the Round of 32. After NSU scored a 64-59 result over WU on the road to their first national championship, the teams would not meet again until the RiverHawks joined the MIAA. 

Coming Up
Northeastern State battles Rogers State in next week's only game for the RiverHawks on Feb. 10.