TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State returns to The Nest to begin their final homestand of the regular season by hosting Central Missouri on Thursday (7:30 p.m.) and #1 Washburn on Saturday (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 (13-9, 7-6 MIAA) fell twice in road matchups last week, taking a 61-48 loss at Fort Hays State on Thursday night before being handed a 98-96 setback in overtime at Nebraska Kearney Saturday. Ethan Blackmon scored a career-high 30 points in the loss to UNK and led the team with 41 points across the week. Trey Phipps added 29 in the loss to the Lopers and Bryson Smith (15), Jaxon Jones (ten) and Taven Washington (ten) reached double figures in the weekend game, as well. Washington was even with Blackmon at the top of the box score on Thursday at FHSU, with both players scoring 11 points in the defeat against the Tigers.

The first release of the KPI Standings within the MIAA placed NSU in sixth (-.010) behind fifth-place Missouri Western (-.006). The KPI formula was introduced to the MIAA postseason seeding process for the 2024-25 season and determines placing on the conference tournament bracket in order of KPI rating from the top ten teams in the league based off of wins and losses. The RiverHawks enter the week two games above the cut-line with six regular season games remaining.

NSU is third in the MIAA in scoring offense (80.3 PPG) and is second in field goal percentage (49.5%) and first in three-point percentage (38.7%). Leading the RiverHawks on the offensive end is Trey Phipps, who holds a lead of over four points in the MIAA scoring race with 21.3 points per game. Ethan Blackmon ranks third in scoring (16.5 PPG) and field goal percentage (56.2%) and is tied for the league crown in rebounding per game (7.5 RPG). Bryson Smith is third in the league in assists per game (4.5) and Jaxon Jones is tied for ninth (3.7 APG), while Smith also currently ties for fifth in steals per game (1.8).

About Central Missouri (11-11, 6-7 MIAA)

UCM enters the week with losses in two of their last three, tied for seventh in the league standings at 6-7 in MIAA play and tenth in KPI (-.050).

The Mules hold one of the slowest paces in the MIAA, ranking 14th in field goals attempted (1163) and 13th in field goals attempted against (1105). They rank as the least-efficient shooting team in the conference (41.8% FG) and are tied for 11th in shooting efficiency beyond the arc (32.7%). Meanwhile, opponents have struck true on 35.4% of attempts from outside, the third-highest rate in the MIAA. DeAirius Barker (12.0 PPG) is the only individual on the team averaging more than 9.5 PPG, while Barker also holds the team lead in three-point field goals made with 43, a total that is tied for eighth in the MIAA. Defensively, Elijah Farr is tied for tenth in blocks per game (0.8) and Josh Nwankwo is tied for eighth in steals per game (1.6).

The Series

NSU is 7-9 against the Mules, dropping the last two in the series. The series in Tahlequah is even at four games apiece.

About #1 Washburn (22-0, 13-0 MIAA)

The Ichabods defend their undefeated record when they travel to face Arkansas-Fort Smith before entering the NSU Event Center Saturday afternoon. Of the team's 22 wins, all have been decided by at least eight points and 20 by at least 11.

Washburn owns the highest-scoring offense in the MIAA (86.7 PPG) and is fourth in three-point percentage (36.0%). Meanwhile, they place seventh in the nation in field goal percentage (51.18%), led by the MIAA's most efficient shooter in Andrew Orr (63.1% FG). The duo of Brayden Shorter (16.4 PPG, fourth in MIAA) and Jack Bachelor (13.5 PPG) combine for 314 of the team's 503 three-point attempts and 123 of their 181 makes. The Ichabods defense opposing shooters to 40.0% from the floor, the second-lowest rate in the MIAA, in addition to the fourth-lowest three-point percentage (32.0%). 

On the glass, the Ichabods hold the most rebounds per game (38.8 RPG) in the conference and surrender the least amount per contest (28.6 RPG), too. The team also paces the MIAA in assists per game (16.95) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5) and places second in turnover margin (4.1) and steals per game (9.6). Bachelor is tied for the MIAA lead in assists per game (5.7) and is at the top of the individual leaderboard in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.5). Michael Keegan has been stout defensively and owns the league crown in steals per game (2.6).

The Series

The RiverHawks are 11-12 in the series against the Ichabods, but have won four of the last six. The most recent meeting took place in Tahlequah on Feb. 3, 2024, which saw five different NSU players enter double figures in a 75-66 win.

Up Next

The RiverHawks finish their final homestand of the regular season by hosting Northwest Missouri (Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m.) and Missouri Western (Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m.).