TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State returns to The Nest to conclude their final homestand of the regular season by hosting Northwest Missouri on Thursday (7:30 p.m.) and Missouri Western 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 (14-10, 8-7 MIAA) split last week's contests, dropping a matchup to Central Missouri (65-56) before knocking off #1 Washburn in an 88-84 triumph. Six different players reached double figures in the win over the Ichabods, led by the team's leading scorer across the week in Trey Phipps, who scored 20 points against WU. Phipps scored his 1,000th career point against the Mules on Thursday night as part of a 21-point showing.

With four games left in the regular season, NSU ranks fifth in the conference in KPI and faces three of the conference's top seven teams the rest of the way. Starting this season, KPI ranking determines both postseason seeding and the ten team bracket, as a whole. The RiverHawks own the MIAA's third-ranked scoring offense (79.6 PPG) and the league's second-most efficient shooting team from the field (49.7 FG%) and from beyond the arc (38.5%). 

Trey Phipps holds a lead of over 100 points in total scoring across the league individually with 509 scored and 21.2 PPG. Phipps also sits in third in minutes per game (35.8) and three-point percentage (41.9%). Ethan Blackmon is tied for third in points per game (16.3) and is third in field goal percentage (55.1%), while he leads the league in rebounding (7.5 RPG). Bryson Smith is third in assists per game (4.8) and is sixth in steals per game (1.8). Meanwhile, Jaxon Jones is tenth in assists per game (3.7) and leads the league in minutes per game (36.8). Jones is also tied for third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2). 

About Northwest Missouri (4-20, 2-13 MIAA)

The Bearcats enter the week with ten straight losses, searching for their first win since Jan. 9. Northwest Missouri is in their first season under head men's basketball coach Matt Keeley after Ben McCollum departed for Drake after the 2023-24 season.

As a team, the Bearcats take 13th in scoring offense (63.8 PPG) in the MIAA and are seventh in scoring defense (72.2 PPG). Additionally, the offense holds the second-lowest field goal percentage (42.5%) in the MIAA and are the least successful unit from beyond the arc (31.6%). The team also surrenders the fourth-most rebounds in the conference (35.4 per game) and are 14th in average rebounding margin (-3.2) and turnover margin (-4.0). The Bearcats have displayed success in defending the three-point shot, tying for the third lowest opposing percentage (32.4%) from outside.

The Series

The RiverHawks have lost 17 straight to the Bearcats, with their lone win in the all-time series occurring in their first-ever meeting at the NCAA Tournament in Joplin, Mo. on Mar. 9, 2000.

About Missouri Western (16-10, 7-8 MIAA)

The Griffons enter the week one spot back from Northeastern State on KPI inside the MIAA. They enter off of losses in three of their last four contests and hold a 5-4 record in true road contests for the season.

Missouri Western ranks 11th in scoring offense (69.5 PPG) and is fourth in scoring defense (67.8 PPG), despite allowing the second-highest field goal percentage (46.1%) and the fourth-highest three-point percentage (35.2%). The Griffons are the most efficient team in the MIAA at the free throw line (76.3%) and are fourth in rebounding margin (2.7).

Individually, four different players average at least 10.1 PPG, led by Zane Nelson (14.2 PPG). Nelson also ranks in the top five in the conference in assists per game (4.5). Julius Dixon is the most efficient three-point shooter from the regular starting five with a 39.7% clip from beyond the arc, while he is sixth in the league in rebounds per game (6.3).

The Series

The RiverHawks are 6-12 against the Griffons and have lost four straight against Missouri Western at home. They seek their first win at the NSU Event Center against MWSU since Nov. 30, 2016.

Up Next

The RiverHawks finish the regular season on the road at Rogers State (Wednesday, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m.) and Central Oklahoma (Saturday, Mar. 1, 3:30 p.m.).