FHSU Sports Information Department
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Fort Hays State saw its longest win streak of the season come to a halt on Thursday night (Feb. 16) in a 66-60 loss at Northeastern State. The RiverHawks snapped their 10-game losing streak in the process and won just their fourth game of the season, now at 4-20 overall and 3-13 in the MIAA. FHSU is now 15-9 overall, 9-7 in the MIAA.
The RiverHawks defied their averages and the Tigers played poorly, creating the perfect recipe for an upset. NSU entered as the worst shooting team in the MIAA overall (.400) and from 3-point range (.332) but pushed that trend aside to shoot 45.1 percent overall and 52.2 percent beyond the 3-point line. A team that averaged less than six 3-point field goals per game buried 12, and it was enough to hold off the struggling Tigers that shot 38.6 percent overall and 23.1 percent beyond the 3-point line.
The biggest performances for NSU came from a pair of the most unsuspecting players. Tyler Williams, who averaged just 5.6 points off the bench, finished with a season-high 17. Trent Cantrell, who averaged just 2.6 points per game, finished with 11 – his first game in double figures this year. Both Williams and Cantrell hit three 3-pointers, combining for half of NSU’s damage beyond the arc. NSU’s leading scorer, Montre’ Williams, was right on his season average with 13 points.
Hot shooting by NSU was not the only thing that doomed the Tigers. FHSU had several opportunities to close an eight-point halftime gap but squandered opportunities by turning the ball over 19 times. That tied their second-highest amount for the season. Rob Davis also had a rough night shooting the ball, finishing with just 11 points. He never found his stroke after picking up two early fouls but did bury a pair of 3-pointers late to give FHSU a chance.
The Tigers looked as though they might find a way out of Tahlequah with a win late. Down 12 with 12:26 to go, FHSU went on a 10-0 run capped by a pair of Hadley Gillum free-throws at the 7:09 mark to cut the lead down to just two. But a Cantrell 3-pointer snapped that run and the NSU lead grew to nine by the 2:56 mark.
With FHSU down by five just over a minute to play, NSU began to crack under pressure. NSU threw a length of the floor pass out of bounds. FHSU capitalized by Davis hitting a 3-pointer to cut the lead to two with 53 seconds remaining. Then a rushed possession with a missed layup gave the ball right back to the Tigers. But the final deflating blow came when Davis was whistled for an offensive foul on a drive to the basket with 31 seconds remaining. What could have been two free-throws to tie the game, turned into a chance for NSU to bury two free-throws on the other end after getting the ball in bounds. Karon Waller hit the free-throws for NSU to push the lead back to four. FHSU missed a three, got a steal, but gave the ball right back with poor ball security. NSU iced the game with two more free-throws.
Gillum finished with a team-high 15 points, while JaQuan Smith had his third double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Davis managed to get into double figures with 11.
The Tigers now turn their focus to a big game at Central Oklahoma on Saturday at 3:30 pm. The Tigers are now tied for fifth in the MIAA standings but sit just a game back of Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney tied for third in the conference.