TAHLEQUAH -- Trey Phipps scored 25 points to pace all NSU players in a 91-60 win for Northeastern State at Jack Dobbins Field House over Ecclesia on Monday night.

The RiverHawks (4-3), who finish 3-0 at home in November with the win, attacked early. The offense scored 29 of the contest's first 36 points against the Royals. Phipps and Bryson Smith were among the biggest aggressors, notching 12 and seven points during that span. NSU carried a 22-point advantage to halftime behind 18-of-36 (50.0%) shooting, while holding the opposition to just nine-of-34 (26.5%) from the field in the stanza. 

The second half saw the Royals find a more efficient level of production with the basketball (14-of-3 shooting, 43.8%), but the RiverHawks added five more triples to their total on the night and collected 17 made field goals overall in the final 20 minutes to push for a season-high 91 points by the end of the evening. The hosts ended with a 35-of-67 (52.2%) clip overall, while holding Ecclesia to 23-of-66 (34.8%).

NSU dominated both on the glass and in moving the basketball, carrying a +22 (51-to-29) difference in rebounding and a +16 (24-to-eight) margin in assists, while turning the ball over a season-low eight times in the win. 

Phipps knocked down ten attempts, including five makes from outside the arc. It marks his sixth scoring effort of 20 or more points through seven games, while he added five rebounds, an assist and a steal in the victory. Joining Phipps in double figures were Keon Edwards (14 points) and Taven Washington (11).

Jaxon Jones finished with the team lead in rebounding (ten) and assists (seven), while Ethan Blackmon and Koen Derry each provided nine points and nine rebounds. Derry added two blocks, while Bryson Smith tallied two steals and six assists alongside seven points.

Northeastern State opens conference play at Arkansas-Fort Smith on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Stubblefield Center.

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