The Missouri Western men’s basketball team couldn’t stop Northeastern State from shooting the ball well and gaining extra possessions, and lost Saturday evening at MWSU Fieldhouse 73-61.

Missouri Western dropped to 8-12 and 4-8 in the conference, and Northeastern improved to 15-5 overall, and is 8-4 in the MIAA.

Missouri Western came out knocking down three 3-pointers to take a 9-3 lead in the first 3 minutes of the matchup. Alex Tuluka-Mfumupembe knocked down two 3s and Reed Mells added another. Cedric Clinkscales added four more points to give the Griffons a 13-5 lead with 16 minutes, 12 seconds to play in the first half.

The Griffons eventually took an 18-10 lead minutes later, but went cold from the field and Northeastern took advantage, going on a 15-0 run to jump out to a 25-18 lead with 8:41 left. John Schneider stepped off the bench and went 3-for-3 with six points and six boards to help lead the comeback for the RiverHawks.

Northeastern took a 31-23 lead into halftime, and the Griffons stayed in the game early in the second half thanks two 3s, one by Dzenan Mrkaljevic and one by Tuluka-Mfumpembe. The RiverHawks shot well from the 3-point line too, however, and took a 48-33 lead with 15 minutes left. Northeastern shot 54 percent from the field in the second half.

The RiverHawks consistently stayed ahead of the Griffons the rest of the way, taking a 20-point lead 62-42 with 7:38 left in the game, and took the win 73-61.

Bryton Hobbs nailed four 3s and was 10-for-17 from the field, scoring 32 points to help Northeastern win. Clinkscales led the Griffons with a team-high 13 points and was 6-for-12. Mrkaljevic added 12 points and eight boards.

The Griffons next travel to Topeka, Kan. to play Washburn Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —