Men's Basketball | 1/20/2026 4:13:00 PM

GAME 18
Emporia State (6-11, 2-6 MIAA) at Northeastern State (10-6, 3-4 MIAA)
Thursday, January 22 • 7:30 p.m. • Tahlequah, Okla. • NSU Event Center
Series Record: ESU leads 21-11 • Last Meeting: at ESU 75, NSU 66 (Jan. 23, 2025)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM 
Internet Audio: kvoe.com | Television: None | Internet Video: The MIAA Network
Live Stats | Ticket Info | Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at #16 UA-Fort Smith • 3:00 p.m. • January 24 • Fort Smith, Ark. • Stubblefield Center

SOUTHERN SWING 
Emporia State begins a four game southern road trip on Thursday at Northeastern State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 6-11, 2-6 in the MIAA and have played the toughest schedule in the MIAA and third toughest schedule in the country. Chris Harris leads the Hornets at 13.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Four of their losses have been by five points or less. 

ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 10-6, 3-4 in the MIAA. They are second in the MIAA in scoring. Xavier Glenn leads five RiverHawks in double figures at 19.6 points per game.

ABOUT THE COACHES
Tom Billeter is 507-303 in his 28th season as a head coach and is 17-29 in his second season at Emporia State after going 394-224 in 21 years at Augustana. With the Vikings he won the 2016 National Championship, went to nine NCAA Tournaments, won three regular season NSIC Championships, two NSIC Tourney Championships, and 18 consecutive winning seasons.  He is 1-0 against Northeastern State.
Ja Havens is 68-84 in his sixth year at Northeastern State and 199-158 in his 13th year overall. He is 0-9 against Emporia State.

SERIES HISTORY WITH THE RIVERHAWKS
Emporia State leads the all-time series 21-11 and have won nine in a row in the series.

LAST TIME VS NORTHEASTERN STATE
Emporia State never trailed in a 75-66 victory over Northeastern State in White Auditorium. Northeastern State pulled within 23-21 following an Ethan Blackmon tip in with 5:16 left in the half when Emporia State took control of the game. Arhman Lewis scored right after Blackmon to ignite an 18-0 run for the Hornets.  Emporia State would hit their next seven shots while holding Northeastern State to just zero for seven from the field over the next four minutes. The RiverHawks  fought back to within five, before Dallas Bear hit a three-pointer to give the Hornets a 69-61 lead with 4:48 remaining.  The Hornets hit their final four free throws in the last 2:58 to ice the 75-66 victory. Karyiek Dixon led Emporia State with 19 points, ten rebounds, five steals and three blocks.  He was joined in double figures by Arhman Lewis with 15 points and five assists while Malik Edwards chipped in 11 points. Parker Day had a team high 11 rebounds to go with six points.
 
LAST TIME OUT
A pair of clutch threes by Jack Weigus, including one at the final buzzer, helped Emporia State complete a 16-point second half comeback with an 89-88 overtime win against Central Missouri on Saturday.
Emporia State would end the first half on the right note, scoring nine of the last 11 points to get within 45-38 at the half. Following the break, the Hornets hit just two of their eight shots to begin the second half and the Mules took their largest lead of the game at 60-44 with 13:57 remaining. ESU then went on an 18-5 run to get within 65-62 with 9:25 remaining. A Trey Redd layup with just under four minutes left tied the game at 72.
Four consecutive free throws gave Central Missouri a 78-74 lead wiht 1:21 left. With 1:09 remaining, Weigus split a pair at the line, making the score 78-75, and after a Mules turnover, he hit his fourth triple of the game with 26.4 remaining to send the game into overtime. In the extra period, Central Missouri built an 86-81 lead with 1:16 remaining. Chris Harris hit a crucial three on the ensuing possession, cutting the deficit to 86-84 with 1:07 to play. Central Missouri committed an offensive foul on the next possession, and Dallas Bear tied the game with a fadeaway in the lane. The Mules converted on the final offensive look to retake the lead with an 88-86 advantage with just 7.3 second left.  After a timeout, Redd went nearly the length of the court before kicking out to Weigus in the corner who delivered the game-winner.
Weigus led four Hornets in double figures with a career-high 23 points and five threes. Chris Harris had 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Dallas Bear and Trey Redd had 16 and 13 points respectively, with Redd posting a team-high six assists.
  
UP NEXT
The Hornets make their first trip to #16 Ark.-Fort Smith on Saturday. Tip-off from the Stubblefield Center is set for 3:00 p.m.

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