TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State men's basketball is at home this week with a pair of rivalry matchups against Central Oklahoma (Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m.) and Rogers State (Saturday, Jan. 11 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 (9-4, 3-1 MIAA) picked up their fourth straight win and their seventh win across their last eight with a narrow 91-87 escape of Pittsburg State at John Lance Arena on Saturday.
Ethan Blackmon scored 28 points in the win, while
Trey Phipps scored 22 and added the go-ahead bucket off of a steal with less than ten seconds remaining en route to his ninth performance of 20 points or more.
Phipps leads the MIAA in scoring (22.7 PPG), while Northeastern State is fourth in the MIAA in the same category (81.8 PPG). They also possess the second-most efficient shooting unit both overall (49.2 FG%) and from outside the arc (38.3%). Meanwhile, Blackmon averages 7.5 rebounds per game to lead the league.
With nine wins entering their 14th matchup, a victory over Central Oklahoma on Thursday would mark the quickest that Northeastern State has reached ten wins on the season since the 2013-14 season. The RiverHawks also have the opportunity to secure their fifth home win out of their first six home contests since the 2021-22 campaign.
About Central Oklahoma (8-5, 2-2 MIAA)
After starting the season with five losses in their first nine contests, the Bronchos have won four straight and two across the span in MIAA action. Most recently, the Bronchos delivered a 90-72 knockdown of Newman on Jan. 4. Thursday will mark just their second true road game of the season.
The Bob Hoffman-led unit has four different players averaging double figures in scoring and owns the second-highest scoring offense in the MIAA (82.1 PPG). Israel Hart (15.8 PPG) leads the way, while JV Seat (13.6 PPG) is the team's most efficient regular three-point shooter (25-of-65, 38.5%). Jacobi Sebock paces the squad in rebounding (7.3 RPG), with an average that ranks second in the conferece.
The Series
NSU is 62-103 in the all-tiem series against UCO, which dates back to their first meeting on Mar. 7, 1925. The RiverHawks have lost seven straight to the Bronchos and seek their first win in the series since Feb. 21, 2021.
About Rogers State (11-5, 2-2 MIAA)
The Hillcats have split their opening four MIAA matchups, but enter the week off a 76-66 win over Newman on Jan. 2. RSU additionally earned a 92-73 win over Missouri Southern on the 2024 side of the campaign on Dec. 4. In away games this season, they are 2-2.
Rogers State, led by Northeastern State alum Justin Barkley in his 15th season, owns the seventh-highest scoring offense (78.3 PPG) in the MIAA entering the week, while tying for third in field goal percentage (48.4%). Defensively, the Hillcats rank in the middle tier of the conference at sixth in points against (68.6 per game) and seventh in both opposing field goal percentage (42.3%) and three-point percentage (32.0%).
Kofi Hamilton (15.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG) and Caden Fry (12.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG) have been key factors in the offensive attack, while Anthony Marshall (11.6 PPG) joins them in averaging double figures and is one of four RSU individuals that have at least 30 three-point attempts and a conversion rate of at least 36.7%.
The Series
The series sits even at 11 games apiece, with RSU cliaming the three most recent contests. It took overtime to decide last season's meeting at the NSU Event Center, where jaxon Jones led the RiverHawks with 19 points and five assists in the loss.
Up Next
The RiverHawks take the court and finish a three-game homestand by facing Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
