TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State closed their home schedule for the calendar year with a 60-55 loss to Missouri Southern Sunday afternoon.

The RiverHawks (9-2, 2-1 MIAA) opened the game on a 21-12 scoring run that gave them what would be their largest advantage of the day at nine points. Despite holding MSSU (9-3, 3-0 MIAA) without a made field goal for a period spanning 12:45 consecutively across the half, the Lions bounced back by ending the half on an 8-1 burst to bring the contest to a two-point difference (22-20) at the break. In the last 6:58 of the half, the RiverHawks would be held to one made field goal.

The Lions continued their run into the third quarter, finding their most productive shooting period of the afternoon with eight conversions on 15 tries, additionally limiting NSU to just 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%) during the stanza. The visitors would take a +8 differential in the quarter and enter the fourth with a six-point edge (43-37), matching what would be their largest lead of the contest.

Northeastern State would battle back to bring the contest to a one-point difference on five different occasions and as late as the last two minutes of the game. Despite being held to just three made field goals in the period, the Lions would strike successfully on all 10 free throw tries to keep the lead and clinch the decision. 

NSU finished the day with a 30.5% (18-of-59) shooting clip. After converting on 31 triples across the previous three games, the RiverHawks were held to 3-of-22 (13.6%) shooting from beyond the arc. McKenzie Smith led the team with 12 points in the loss, while Reese Shirey and Gabrielle Tilley each added 11. Smith also led the team in rebounding with eight, while Snowda Watie accounted for four of NSU's eight steals. 

The RiverHawks return to the court for a road non-conference test at UT Dallas on Dec. 31 at 2 p.m.