TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State hits the hardwood on the road with two MIAA contests within the Sunflower state, traveling to face Emporia State (Thursday at 7:30 p.m.) and Newman (Saturday at 3:30 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 (11-5, 5-2 MIAA) were in action for a single contest last Thursday, completing a regular season sweep of Arkansas-Fort Smith in an 82-69 win at the NSU Event Center. Trey Phipps led the way with 24 points, marking the fourth straight game that the MIAA's top scorer has recorded at least 22. The defense put together one of their best showings against NCAA competition this season in the UAFS meeting last week, holding the Lions to just 23-of-57 (40.4%) shooting, the lowest clip of any NCAA opponent this season. Taking care of the basketball also assisted NSU to their 13-point win over UAFS last week. The RiverHawks only had six turnovers, their lowest on the season and their fewest in a single game since Nov. 27, 2021. The victory ensured that NSU remained in a tie for second place in the league standings with Fort Hays State at 5-2 in league play. 

Connecting on 135-of-336 (40.2%) three-point shots so far this season, the RiverHawks are the top three-point shooting team in MIAA and are fourth nationally, behind only Carson-Newman (42.3%), Hawaii Hilo (40.9%) and Charleston (W.V.) (40.3%). They boast the second-ranked scoring offense (82.4 PPG) in the MIAA, while they hold an identical placing within the league in field goal percentage (49.7%).

Phipps holds a lead exceeding six points per game on the conference scoring title race with 22.8 PPG (second place entering the week is Washburn's Brayden Shorter at 16.6 PPG). Phipps also ties for the conference lead in minutes per game (36.1), and area that Jaxon Jones ranks third in (35.8 MPG). Meanwhile, Ethan Blackmon is in a three-way tie for sixth in scoring (15.6 PPG) and paces all MIAA individuals in rebounding (7.9 RPG). Jones (4.5 APG) and Bryson Smith (4.4 APG) are fourth and fifth in the MIAA in assists per game, respectively, while Smith also is tied for fourth in steals per game (1.9).

About Emporia State (4-13, 1-7 MIAA)

The Hornets hold the longest-active losing streak in the MIAA across both men's and women's basketball at seven games, winless overall since Dec. 17 and in MIAA action since Dec. 7. The program is in its first season under two-time National Coach of the Year Tom Billeter after Craig Doty departed for Houston Christian in the offseason.

The team is 11th across the league in scoring (69.5 PPG) and are 13th in field goal percentage (42.0%) and ninth in three-point percentage (33.8%). Defensively, the Hornets are tied with Newman for tenth in points allowed per game (74.5), while they surrender the second-highest percentage of field goal tries (46.5%) and the third-highest percentage of three-point attempts (35.2%). They rank 12th in rebounding margin (-2.1) but crash the offensive class at the fifth-highest rate in the MIAA (10.0 ORPG). 

Malik Edwards Jr. (12.6 PPG) leads all ESU individuals in scoring, while Parker Day leads all regular starters in rebounding (6.3 RPG) with an average that is sixth across the MIAA. 

The Series

NSU is 11-21 against ESU and is in their longest drought of the series with eight straight losses. Three of the last four meetings have been decided by single digits.

About Newman (10-7, 3-5 MIAA)

The Jets enter off of consecutive losses at the hands of Central Missouri (80-70) and #1 Washburn (121-73). Since scoring a victory over the RiverHawks at the NSU Event Center on Dec. 5 (85-66), the Jets have earned wins in five of ten games. The team also has wins in six of eight home matchups this season.

Newman owns the sixth-ranked scoring offense in the MIAA (78.4 PPG) while sitting in eighth in field goal percentage (46.0%) and sixth in three-point percentage (36.1%). Defensively, the Jets are tied with Emporia State for tenth in points allowed per game (74.5), though they tie for fifth in opposing field goal percentage (43.1%). The team sits atop the league in total rebounding (39.8 RPG) and on the offensive glass (12.5 ORPG). 

Sam Somerholder (10.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG) has played a key role in securing NU's position as the top glass-cleaning crew in the MIAA, ranking seventh among individuals in the conference (6.2 RPG). Aaron Murphy leads the rotation in scoring (11.4 PPG) and Boston Stanton III (10.4 PPG) is the most efficient three-point shooter with at least five starts on the team (38.5%).

The Series

NSU leads the series entering Saturday, 12-5. In an 85-66 loss on Dec. 5 inside the NSU Event Center, Trey Phipps was one of three NSU individuals in double figures with 24 points, while Jaxon Jones added a season-high 19 in the setback.

Up Next

The RiverHawks are at home to close January and start February, hosting Pittsburg State (Jan. 30) and Missouri Southern (Feb. 1) at the NSU Event Center.