TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State concludes a season-opening five-game homestand with evening contests against No. 20 Southern Nazarene on Friday (7 p.m.) and Ecclesia on Monday (6 p.m.). After that, they travel for their first road test against Arkansas Tech on Wednesday (4 p.m.).
A canned food drive will be taking place inside the NSU Event Center on both nights. Bring two canned food items for a free ticket, while bins will be displayed across the Event Center for donations.
A quick look back
The RiverHawks (3–0) earned their first 3-0 start since 2019 with a 113-52 victory over Ozark Christian on Tuesday.
Eight different players reached double figures, led by
Nehemiah Weber (19 points). NSU had their highest-scoring night as an offense since Nov. 16, 2022, while their 12 steals were their most in a single game since Dec. 5, 2024.
Through three games, NSU averages 90.7 points per game, knocking down over half their field goal attempts (100-of-198, 50.5%) in the process. Meanwhile, they've held opponents to a combined 40.6% shooting (73-of-180) and just 27% (17-of-63) from beyond the arc. The RiverHawks hold a differential of +16 on the glass so far, in addition to +17 in assisted makes.
About Southern Nazarene
The Crimson Storm opened the season ranked in the initial NABC Top 25 poll after a 22-win result last year that saw SNU earn a spot in the GAC Tournament Championship game. After earning two wins in the GAC/NSIC Challenge in Bethany, Okla., the Crimson Storm won their first road contest of the season to Missouri Western on Wednesday (82-79).
SNU returns five of seven players that appeared in at least 27 games last season. Baron Bracey (13.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG in 2024-25) set an SNU career high in scoring against Northern State last Saturday, logging 25 points across 39 minutes in a 72-66 win.
The series
SNU earned a narrow 71-66 decision against NSU last season in Bethany in the first meeting between the teams since 1988. Friday's encounter will be just the fifth across series history.
About Ecclesia
The Royals took the court on Wednesday against Drury, taking a 108-68 loss in their seventh defeat of the campaign. NSU will mark their fourth NCAA Division II opponent of the season after they face Ouachita Baptist on Saturday.
The series
It marks the third straight season that the RiverHawks have faced the Royals and it is the ninth meeting overall. NSU has claimed the first eight, with all victories occurring by a difference of at least 18 points.
About Arkansas Tech
The Wonder Boys dropped their first two games to MIAA foes in Missouri Southern (80-70) and Newman (95-87) in the GAC/MIAA Crossover Challenge in Joplin, Mo. last week. They face #3 Dallas Baptist on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Russellville, Ark.
The team returned only one player who saw time on the floor last season. State Fair CC transfer Sam Bradford led the team with 26 points in their opener against Missouri Southern, while Pacific transfer Donyae May received 33 minutes in each of the team's matchups in Joplin, combining for 33 points and eight conversions from three-point range.
The series
ATU leads the series, 24-16, with the Wonder Boys winning nine of the last ten. The most recent meeting was in 2017, when current ATU head coach Mark Downey was in the same position at Northeastern State.
Up next
NSU takes the court against Mississippi College at the NSU Event Center on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 1:30 p.m. in the Nike N7 Indigenous Peoples' Game.
