JOPLIN, Mo. --  Despite outscoring Missouri Southern in three of the four quarters, Northeastern State couldn't overcome a second-quarter stumble in an 85-75 road loss Saturday at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

The RiverHawks (16-4, 8-3 MIAA) came out of the gates blazing, sprinting to a 21-8 lead during the opening period. Reese Shirey knocked down four 3-pointers to lead NSU with 16 points, and the team appeared poised to hand the Lions their second conference loss of the season.

But then the second quarter happened.

Missouri Southern (15-4, 9-1) unleashed a 22-5 run that turned the game on its head. NSU managed just three field goals in the quarter and committed five turnovers while the Lions feasted at the free-throw line with 12 points.

The RiverHawks regrouped after halftime, winning the third (19-16) and fourth (26-22) quarters, but the second-period deficit proved too much to erase.

Annaston Brown added 13 points off the bench, while McKenzie Smith chipped in 10 points and five rebounds for NSU, which got 40 points from its bench overall.

Northeastern State will return home for a Thursday night showdown against Fort Hays State at 5:30 p.m. in Tahlequah.