TAHLEQUAH — Trey Phipps paced the RiverHawks with 24 points as Northeastern State earned their sixth home win and 11th overall in an 82-69 victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday.

NSU (11-5, 5-2 MIAA) claimed an early 37-33 edge at intermission after connecting with 13 field goals across 30 attempts for a 43.3% clip in the opening half. An even greater emergence on the offensive end occurred in the following half, though, with the RiverHawks attacking the Lions (7-9, 1-6 MIAA) defense and striking 17 makes on 29 tries (58.6%) and limiting UAFS to 23-of-57 (40.4%) across the night.

Phipps added six rebounds in the win, matching Ethan Blackmon for the team high. Bryson Smith scored 14 in the opening period and finished with 17 on the night, matched by Blackmon to tie for second on the team. It marks the 32nd time in the Havens era where NSU recorded at least 80 points scored, with the 29th win across such an occasion.

The RiverHawks have a week away from the court before returning for a Thursday night matchup against Emporia State at 7:30 p.m.