TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State concludes the regular season with in-state rivalry contests at Rogers State (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.) and Central Oklahoma (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 (14-12, 8-9 MIAA) dropped both of last week's contests inside the NSU Event Center to Northwest Missouri (81-74) and Missouri Western (83-81). The losses knocked NSU from fifth to ninth in the latest release of the MIAA's KPI standings. With a league KPI score of -.035, the RiverHawks sit ahead of tenth-place Newman (-.044) and 11th-place Emporia State (-.053), though both teams own head-to-head advantages over NSU. 

NSU enters the final week of the regular season with losses in five of their last six. They hold the third-ranked scoring offense (79.4 PPG) across the season, while they ranked second in field goal percentage (49.7%) and three-point efficiency (38.5%). They sit in third in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3) with a fourth-place ranking on assists per game (15.7) for the campaign. Inside of conference play, NSU is the most efficient free throw shooting team (78.3%) and are third in league play in assists per game (15.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2).

Individually, Trey Phipps holds the MIAA lead in scoring for the season by nearly 100 points, averaging 21.4 PPG. Phipps is also third in free throw percentage (85.0%), three-point percentage (41.1%), made triples (72) and minutes per game (35.8). Ethan Blackmon is third in scoring (16.8 PPG) and leads the MIAA in rebounding (7.5 RPG). The sophomore also sits second in the league in field goal percentage (55.4%). Bryson Smith is tenth in field goal percentage (48.5%) and ranks third in assists per game (4.8), seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0), is tied for sixth in steals per game (1.8) and places fifth in minutes per game (35.3). Jaxon Jones is second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3) and leads all MIAA individuals in minutes per game (36.7) across the season.

About Rogers State (20-9, 11-6 MIAA)

The Hillcats enter the regular season's last week after winning four of their last five. RSU is second in the conference in KPI score (.053).

Inside of conference play, RSU is the league's fifth-ranked scoring offense (76.4 PPG) and 11th in scoring defense (77.1 PPG). The Hillcats have connected on 46.2% of attempts against league foes, the fifth-best rate in the conference, while they surrender conversions on 46.6% of tries against MIAA opponents, ranking eighth in the MIAA. From beyond the arc, RSU ranks fourth in efficiency (36.4%), but 12th in makes (341). 

Anthony Marshall Jr. (14.2 PPG) leads the roster in scoring, while he is sixth in the MIAA in assists per game (4.2) and is tied for eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8). He also places ninth on the season in the MIAA in free throw percentage (80.0%). Caden Fry is third in the MIAA in rebounds per game (7.2). Bernard Omooria is fifth in made triples on the year (57).

The Series

The RiverHawks trail by one game (12-11) in the all-time series against the Hillcats, dropping the last four overall and the last two in Claremore. They seek their first win over RSU at the Claremore Expo Center since Feb. 22, 2022. 

About Central Oklahoma (15-11, 9-8 MIAA)

The Bronchos have won three of their most recent five and host Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday night in Edmond before battling NSU on Saturday. They sit in sixth in the most recent KPI standings release from the MIAA (-.017). 

Inside of conference play, UCO is third in scoring (80.3 PPG) and is ninth in scoring defense (75.2 PPG). The Bronchos knock down 45.6% of field goal attempts against league opponents, good for sixth in the conference. Meanwhile, league opponents have converted on an identical 45.6% of tries, sixth in the league, as well. The Bronchos boast a top five three-point shooting unit at a 36.0% rate of success on long shots. They hold the strongest turnover margin in MIAA play (5.6) and pace the conference in blocks per game (4.5) and steals per game (10.1) during league action, as well.

Israel Hart (15.9 PPG) leads the team in scoring and is sixth in the MIAA. Hart also sits fifth in the MIAA in steals (50), second on the team behind Jordan Thompson (60), who also is tied for sixth in the MIAA in assists (105) and tied for fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1). Jacobi Sebock is second among individuals in the league in rebounds per game (7.3) and is sixth in field goal percentage (52.1%). The Bronchos possess the top two shot-blockers in the association in Matthew Willenborg and Luke Haasl (each at 1.5 BPG), while Sebock also ranks eighth in the league (0.9 BPG).  

The Series

The RiverHawks trail 103-63 in the series, but hold a 1-0 edge in the regular season series after taking down UCO on Jan. 9 in the NSU Event Center. The favorable 93-84 result marked NSU's first win over the Bronchos since Feb. 21, 2021. They now aim for their first win in Edmond over UCO since Feb. 20, 2021.

Up Next

The bracket for the 2025 MIAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament is due to release on Saturday, dictated by the top ten teams in KPI score across the league. The tournament takes place at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. from Mar. 5-9.