FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Northeastern State kicked off its Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association campaign with a hard-fought 84-81 road victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Tuesday night at the Stubblefield Center.

The RiverHawks (5-3, 1-0 MIAA) claimed its first road win of the season and beat the Lions on their home floor for the first time in program history. Bryson Smith shined with 18 points, seven assists, and two rebounds, leading a balanced Northeastern State offense. Trey Phipps added 16 points and six rebounds, while Taven Washington chipped in with 14 points, including three clutch three-pointers.

The RiverHawks never trailed the Lions and a key to their success was their efficiency as Northeastern State shot 54% from the field and knocked down seven of 16 attempts from beyond the arc. They also capitalized on Arkansas-Fort Smith's miscues, scoring 18 points off turnovers to counteract the Lions' 37-21 rebounding advantage.

Northeastern State leaned heavily on its starters, with four players logging 35 or more minutes. Jaxon Jones and Keon Edwards added double-digit scoring efforts with 11 and 12 points, respectively, showcasing the team's depth.

On the defensive end, the RiverHawks disrupted the Lions' offense with nine steals, turning Arkansas-Fort Smith's 20 turnovers into critical points.

The Lions (3-4, 0-1 MIAA) were led by Terrell Williams Jr., who recorded 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Isaiah Lewis, who contributed 21 points.  Despite dominating the paint with 54 points, Arkansas-Fort Smith struggled to maintain possession, a flaw that proved decisive.

Northeastern State led by ten points with just over seven minutes left in regulation but they couldn't put away the Lions who managed to get within a point with ten seconds left.  Free throws from Ethan Blackmon pulled NSU out by three with Fort Smith having enough time to take a last-second three-point attempt.  

The win marked Northeastern State's third straight victory and now turns its attention to an upcoming home game on Thursday, where they will look to build on its early conference momentum against Newman at 7:30 p.m.