Box Score

Northeastern State ended Fort Hays State's six-game win streak on Thursday evening (Jan. 3) in Tahlequah, Okla. by a score of 76-61. The loss puts FHSU at 8-3 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA, while Northeastern State remained perfect in conference play at 10-1 overall and 3-0 in the MIAA.

The Riverhawks pulled away from the Tigers steadily after burying a pair of 3-point field goals just before halftime to take a nine point lead 38-29. NSU scored the first five points of the second half and steadily kept pulling away from FHSU in the second half, leading by as many as 19 before the final margin of 15.

Three-point shooting was the key to success for the Riverhawks, burying nine in the game including six in the second half. The Tigers, usually strong from beyond the 3-point line, struggled to just 22.2 percent from long range (4-of-18). The Tigers shot a season-low 39.4 percent from the field, the first game this year in which they shot less than 40 percent overall. Northeastern State finished at 44.6 percent overall and 47.4 percent beyond the 3-point line.

Lance Russell led FHSU in scoring with 16 points, followed by Ben Congiusta and Craig Nicholson each with 11. Congiusta had seven assists and Nicholson added five. Dwayne Brunson had a team-high 12 rebounds.

Ethan Anderson led NSU in scoring with 20 points, burying four 3-point field goals. Bryton Hobbs had 17 and also had four 3-point field goals. Landon DeMasters, who scored the first nine of the game for NSU, finished with 15, and Jermaine Bransford had a double-double of 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

Fort Hays State looks to regroup when it plays at Emporia State on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 5) at 3:30 pm.