ST. JOSEPH, Mo. --
Caison Hartloff found the game-winning shot with under two seconds left as Northeastern State emerged winners of a 62-61 road meeting with Missouri Western at MWSU Fieldhouse Thursday night.
The RiverHawks (9-14, 4-13 MIAA) took an early 7-0 deficit with a burst of early scoring from the Griffons (15-9, 9-9 MIAA) over the contest's first two minutes. Missouri Western would go on to take their largest lead of the night at nine points (15-6) with 13:42 left in the first half. While the RiverHawks never led in the first, they fought back the rest of the time to force a 29-29 draw entering the half from 13-of-26 (50.0%) shooting across the period.
The second half saw similar efficient work in shooting, as NSU finished at 12-of-22 (54.5%) in the closing frame. It helped in matching a MWSU offense that shot at a similar 46.2% (12-of-26) conversion rate, while the RiverHawks limited the Griffons to only one made three-point basket in the second half, as well.
The last twenty minutes were closely battled, with both sides trading the lead 13 times and neither finding more than a more than four points worth of breathing room from the opposition. Northeastern entered the final minute entangled with Missouri Western amid a 58-58 tie, of which the RiverHawks found the go-ahead points from
Ethan Blackmon with 38 seconds left on a pair of converted free throws. A three-point play from JaRon Thames with 26 seconds to play wiped away the slim two-point edge, while giving the hosts a one-point lead with the shot clock no longer a factor in regulation.
Needing points and with the game on the line, the RiverHawks possessed the basketball for over 24 seconds before Hartloff hit the game-winning shot with 1.6 seconds left to put the team up by a point, while placing the senior in double figures on the night with 11. The limited time was not enough for the Griffons to respond, giving NSU the victory.
Outside of Hartloff, three players reached double figures for the RiverHawks, with Blackmon pacing the group with 14 points.
Keon Edwards was true on six field goals en route to a 13-point night, while
Trey Quartlebaum ended the contest with ten points for his fifth entry of at least ten points or more in his last six appearances. Quartlebaum tied for the NSU crown on the glass with seven rebounds, matching the total of
Jaxon Jones in the triumph.
Northeastern State goes to Maryville to encounter #11 Northwest Missouri at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
