PITTSBURG, Kan. – Northeastern State withstood a late rally by Pittsburg State and overtook the Gorillas in the final minute for a 91-87 win on Saturday evening.  The RiverHawks used six unanswered points in the final minute for their fourth consecutive victory and improved to 9-4 (3-1 MIAA). 

Trey Phipps scored 22 points and had a key takeaway with seven seconds remaining in regulation.  The fifth-year senior provided the go-ahead driving layup and picked up the and-one opportunity which was the catalyst for the road win.  

Ethan Blackmon paced the RiverHawks on the floor with 28 points and was a rebound short of a double-double.  The sophomore shot 12-for-22 and was just a point off from matching his career high-scoring effort.  Jaxon Jones had his third career double-double with 15 points and matched his career-best with ten rebounds.  Keon Edwards had three of NSU's seven made triples and scored 11 points.  

Northeastern State held a nine-point lead midway through the second half before the Gorillas embarked on a 12-2 run to overtake NSU by the 7:25 mark.  The lead changed eight times before Jones tied the game at 87-87 with 12 seconds left. 

Both teams made 37 field goals but a key difference was the Gorillas' inability to make limited free-throw attempts and they were 4-for-11; Northeastern State was 10-for-14 at the line.  The RiverHawks did have three additional offensive rebounds and scored five additional points over the Gorillas. 

Jordan Frison led Pittsburg State with 18 points as they dropped to 7-6 (3-1 MIAA) and saw an eight-game home winning streak halt. 

The RiverHawks have won four consecutive on the road for the first time since the 2002-03 season, a year in which they claimed the NCAA Division II National Championship.

Northeastern State returns home for the next three games and will host Central Oklahoma next on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.