NSU Sports
Don Vieth, Director of Athletic Communications
JOPLIN, Mo – Northeastern State hit a season high for scoring on Wednesday night but also allowed a season high in a 100-93 loss at Missouri Southern.
Montre’ Williams and Cameron Martin both scored 20-points, with Tanner Mouse adding 17 for NSU. The trio led the RiverHawks as they shot a season high 55.6-percent (35-63) from the field and bested their previous game high total by 11 points which was on Nov. 26 at home against Friends.
However, Northeastern State couldn’t slow down the Lions’ offense who hit the century mark thanks to 15 three-pointers, with 12 of them coming in the second half.
The RiverHawks out-shot a team for the third time this season with Missouri Southern shooting 47.9-percent from the field. Wednesday night’s stat oddity would be that Northeastern State has lost in both games they shot over 50-percent from the field this season.
Rebounding was even by both programs with Juvon Turner leading the way with eight, he also added 11 points for the RiverHawks. Trent Cantrell played 13 minutes off of NSU’s bench and pulled down five boards, with eight points.
Northeastern State led for the majority of the first 15 minutes of the contest until Missouri Southern broke a 29-29 tie with 5:03 left with four straight points that would be good enough to take a 42-37 halftime edge.
Out of the locker room in the second half both teams put on an offensive show with 42 combined field-goals by both squads. The RiverHawks had to climb back from a 77-57 hole with 9:38 left in the game and managed to within eight late in the contest. Montre’ Williams and Mouse both scored 14 points in the second half with Martin adding 12. Despite the hot NSU shooting, the Lions made 12-of-21 shots from the arc to keep the RiverHawks behind.
Northeastern State’s bench outscored MSSU 26-to-12 in the paint and doubled the Lions points in second chances with 14.
The Lions had four in double-figures with JJ Cratit scoring a game high 22 points and with the win they will go to 12-8 and 6-5 in the MIAA. Northeastern State has lost their last five in a row and they are 3-15 overall and in league play they are 2-8.
NSU will return to the floor on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. where they will travel to Pittsburg State.