TAHLEQUAH – The Northeastern State men's basketball team returns for their final home games in the month of January by hosting Emporia State (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.) and Newman (Saturday, 2 p.m.). The RiverHawks are 10-6 overall and 3-4 in MIAA contests.

Through 16 games, Northeastern State holds the second-ranked scoring unit (87.9 points per game) in the MIAA. The RiverHawks are second in field goal percentage (49.6%) and three-point percentage (37.6%), too. The RiverHawks are third in rebounding (39.1 RPG). Individually, Xavier Glenn is tied for fourth in scoring (19.6 PPG) and Ethan Blackmon is second in rebounding (8.8 RPG). AJ Reed Jr. is fourth in steals per game (1.8 SPG).

A Quick Look Back
Northeastern State earned a win against #11 Arkansas-Fort Smith on the road last Friday. In a 71-63 victory, Taven Washington led the offense with 15 points and the defense held UAFS to 33.3% shooting. The conversion rate for the UAFS scoring attack marked the lowest from an opposing MIAA team for Northeastern State since Feb. 25, 2023.

The RiverHawks have found connections on 52.9% of shots during their two-game winning streak, while opponents have landed makes on only 36.4% of tries. It marks the first time since 2023 that the RIverHawks have held MIAA foes to under 40% shooting in back-to-back games.

About Emporia State
The Hornets (6-11, 2-6 MIAA) enter with wins in two of their last three. They are tied for ninth in the conference in scoring (77.6 PPG) but shoot the three with the fourth-highest rate of success (36.7%). On the other end, they allow the fifth-most points per game (77.5) and surrender conversions overall (45.7%) and from beyond the arc (34.6%) at the third-highest rate.

Chris Harris leads the offense, averaging 13 PPG and entering with eight straight performances in double figures. Andrew Pengel is second in scoring (11.4 PPG) and leads the team in three-point attempts (105). Ten different players average 12 minutes per game and Harris is the only one to average more than 23.8 per contest.

The Series: ESU leads the series 22-11 and have won the last nine games, the longest streak for either team across a history that extends back to 1953.

About Newman
The Jets (5-12, 1-7 MIAA) have lost eight straight, the longest active losing streak across both men's and women's basketball in the MIAA. Their most recent win against an NCAA opponent was against Northeastern on Dec. 4 (81-71), a matchup that saw the Jets finish on a 24-13 run after trailing by a point (58-57) with 9:53 left.

Newman converts from beyond the arc at the third-highest rate in the MIAA (36.9%), but they sit in 11th in scoring offense (77.5 PPG) and are 13th in scoring defense (81.5 PPG). The Jets have allowed at least 84 points in eight of their last nine against NCAA competition.

The Series: NSU leads the series, 12-7. They are 9-1 in true home contests against the Jets. The Jets have won the last three, their longest winning streak across series history.

Up Next
The RiverHawks travel for league rematches against Pittsburg State (Jan. 28) and Missouri Southern (Jan. 31).