TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State finishes a three-game homestand with a rematch against Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

A live broadcast feed will be available for both games on The MIAA Network (PPV). The games can also be listened to live on Lakes Country 102.1 with Orry Phillips on the call. 

A quick look back 

The RiverHawks (10-5, 4-2 MIAA) snapped a seven-game losing streak to Central Oklahoma with a 93-84 victory over the Bronchos on Thursday night at the NSU Event Center. Four different NSU individuals scored at least 18 points, led by Trey Phipps (23). Ethan Blackmon added 21 with a team-best nine rebounds across the win, while Bryson Smith (18 points) and Keon Edwards (18) logged major offensive performances, too. Saturday saw the Green and White fall in the final seconds of a matchup with Rogers State, despite 23 points and 14 rebounds from Blackmon. Phipps matched Blackmon's 23 points in the 82-80 loss, which halted NSU's five-game winning streak.

Blackmon's performances across the week earned him MIAA Athlete of the Week honors for Men's Basketball, making him the second NSU player to be honored this season, after Trey Phipps. It marked the first time since the 2013-14 season that multiple NSU players have received the weekly honor. 

Just over halfway into the regular season, Phipps leads the MIAA in scoring (22.7 PPG), while Blackmon is sixth (15.5 PPG) and leads the conference in rebounding (8.0 RPG). Meanwhile, the team is second in the MIAA in scoring (82.4 PPG) and field goal perencetage (49.6%), while they rank at the top of the league and fifth nationally in three-point percentage (40.4%). 

About Arkansas-Fort Smith (7-8, 1-5 MIAA)

The Lions enter the week off of claiming their first MIAA victory in program history, a 79-71 result over Central Oklahoma last Sunday. Meanwhile, the team has fallen victim to three separate losses by three points each inside of MIAA play.

UAFS owns the fifth-ranked scoring offense (80.5 PPG) in the MIAA, while holding an identical placing on the league ladder in field goal percentage (47.2%). The Lions sit inside the top half of the association in field goal percentage (36.0%, seventh). Defensively, they rank eighth in points allowed per game (72.3) and are tied for eighth in opposing field goal percentage (43.5%), while ranking ninth in opposing three-point percentage (33.0%). The rebounding unit has the fourth-best per-game total (36.5 RPG) and the third-best margin (+5.3).

Terrell Williams Jr. (13.0 PPG, 50.9 FG%) leads the UAFS offense and recorded his second-highest scoring amount against NSU in December (24 points). The redshirt senior is one of four UAFS individuals averaging double figures in scoring.  

The Series

NSU is 3-3 all-time against the Lions, winning the first meeting in eight years last December at the Stubblefield Center in a narrow 84-81 result.

Five different NSU players reached double figures against the Lions, led by Bryson Smith's 18 points in the triumph. Meanwhile, Trey Phipps added 16 in the victorious contest.

Up Next

The RiverHawks spend the last full week of January on the road, facing Emporia State on Jan. 23 before traveling to Wichita, Kan. to battle Newman on Jan. 25.