TAHLEQUAH – The Northeastern State men's basketball team starts their final road trip of the regular season by traveling for matchups at Central Missouri (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.) and No. 3 Washburn (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.). The RiverHawks are 12-10 overall and 5-8 in MIAA contests.
Through 22 games, Northeastern State ranks third in the MIAA in scoring (85 points per game), as well as second in field goal percentage (49.5%) and third on the glass (38 rebounds per game). The RiverHawks are also third in assists per game (16.3). Individually,
Xavier Glenn in fourth in scoring (18.8 PPG) and
Ethan Blackmon is second in rebounding (8 RPG). Blackmon is also sixth among qualified individuals in field goal percentage (54.8%), while
AJ Reed Jr. ranks eighth in assists per game (3.8).
A Quick Look Back
Northeastern State earned their first win against Fort Hays State across the Havens era with a 66-64 triumph on Thursday night at the NSU Event Center.
Ethan Blackmon landed his 13th career double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds. The RiverHawks dominated the paint against the Tigers, holding a +14 scoring margin in the painted area alongside a favorable 12-point differential in scoring from fast breaks.
On Saturday, the RiverHawks fell victim to an 89-82 defeat by Nebraska Kearney in The Nest. The hosts led 41-31 with 1:23 left in the first half, but the Lopers would shoot 18-of-35 (51.4%0 for the rest of the way. The RiverHawks would be held to 14-of-34 (41.2%) shooting from the field in the same span of time. NSU also found inconsistencies in their performance at the free throw line in the loss, shooting 17-of-27 to mark their fourth game across their last nine with at least ten misses.
About Central Missouri
The Mules (18-7, 9-4 MIAA) face NSU for the first time since last season's MIAA Tournament on Thursday. They became the first team to knock off then-No. 1 Washburn with a 74-72 victory on Saturday.
Central Missouri owns an offense that paces the MIAA in three-point shooting efficiency (39.7%) after ranking 13th in the same category last season. They are tied for fifth across the league in scoring (81.8 PPG) and possess the association's top scorer in true freshman Lazerek Houston (21.4 PPG). Houston is the reigning MIAA Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week after scoring 31 points in Saturday's win over the Ichabods.
The Series: UCM has won 11 of 18 meetings in the series, including the last four. The RiverHawks have won once in Warrensburg against the Mules, a contest held on Jan. 12, 2023 that saw NSU emerge with a 74-63 triumph.
About No. 3 Washburn
The Ichabods (22-1, 12-1 MIAA) enter the week after their first loss of the season last Saturday against Central Missouri. They put their 25-game winning streak in matchups at Lee Arena on the line against No. 25 Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday before encountering NSU on Saturday.
Washburn owns the top scoring offense (88 PPG) in the MIAA and the 16th-ranked scoring attack across Division II men's basketball. The Ichabods are third nationally in field goal percentage (51.4%) and also pace the MIAA in assists per game (18), turnover margin (6, fifth nationally), opposing field goal percentage (39.3%, eighth nationally) and steals per game (11.3, eighth nationally).
Of their 22 victories, 18 have occurred by at least 11 points. Dillon Claussen has been a guiding force behind many of them with a team-best 16 PPG and 6.4 RPG. Claussen provided 27 points, a career high, in their most recent victory against Nebraska Kearney (89-67) on Jan. 31.
The Series: The series is tied at 12 games apiece, though NSU has won five of the last seven. The Ichabods have won eight of 11 meetings in Topeka, including the last two.
Up Next
The RiverHawks close their regular season road schedule with contests at Northwest Missouri (Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7:30) and MoWest (Saturday, Feb. 21 at 3:30).
