Game #19
Northeastern State Riverhawks (2-14, 2-14 MIAA) at Newman Jets (2-16, 2-16 MIAA)
Thursday, Feb. 18 • 7:30 P.M. Wichita, Kan. • Fugate Gymnasium
Series Record: NSU leads series 4-1 Last Meeting: Jan. 9^th, 2020 NSU 82 NU 72 in Tahlequah, Okla.
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
Up Next: vs Rogers State • Sat. Feb. 20 • 3:30 P.M. • Wichita, Kan.

LAST TIME OUT
The game would start off with both teams exchanging baskets until the sixteen minute mark where the Jets would hit back to back three's from David Javorsky and Tracy Jones to take a six point advantage. Seven minutes later, the Griffons would find themselves with an eight point lead. A lead they would not relinquish the rest of the half and would build up to as much as twelve points in the half. Newman would close out the first half on a 7-2 run to trail by 5 points heading into the intermission.  Early in the second half, Missouri Western would build their lead back up to as much as 14 points. Newman would be able to cut it down to single digits when they would score six straight points to trail 52-44 with just over 14 minutes left to play. The Griffins would respond right back by scoring the next five points. Newman would be able to cut the deficit to eight a few more times in the contest, but that would be as close as Missouri Western would let it get as they would hold on to take down the Jets 86-75.

THE COACHES
RJ Allen is in his fourth season as the head coach and tenth on the staff for the Jets. Allen is 2-16, 2-16 in the MIAA in his fourth season at Newman. Last season under coach Allen, the Jets went 9-19 and 3-16 in the MIAA.  Allen has led Newman to a 34-23 overall record and a 21-11 Heartland Conference record over his first two seasons. Allen won Heartland Conference Coach of the Year honors in the 2017-18 season, he was the first coach to win the award in their first season. Prior to Newman Allen spent 5 season as an assistant coach at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn.

Ja Havens is in his first season at the helm for Northeastern State Men's Basketball program in the 2020-21 season. Before coming to Northeastern State he coached at East Central University where he posted a record of 131-74 in seven seasons and helped the Tigers to back-to-back Great American Conference Regular Season championships in 2016 and 2017.
 
ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 2-16 on the season, 2-16 in the MIAA.  Newman is led in scoring by Redshirt Junior guard Joel Boyce at 13.7 points per game.  Boyce also leads the Jets in rebounding at 7.0 rebounds per game.
 
ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 2-14 on the season, 2-14 in the MIAA. Northeastern State is led in scoring by Trey Sampson at 14.6 points per game. Sampson also leads the Riverhawks in rebounding at 6.1 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the sixth all-time meeting between these schools with the Riverhawks leading the series 4-1 over the Jets.

LAST TIME VS NORTHEASTERN STATE
The Riverhawks started off the game scoring the first 13 points to take a commanding lead early. Newman would be able to battle back in the first half getting the score as close as seven points on multiple occasions as the Riverhawks would take a 13 point lead, 39-26 into the intermission.  Newman would come out of the break and slowly chip away at the Riverhawks lead. The Jets eventually tied the game up at 58-58 with just over six minutes left in regulation on a layup from Branden Bunn assisted by Joel Boyce. Northeastern State would respond by immediately taking the lead back on the next possession. An Ian Lee old fashioned three point play within one point of the Riverhawks with just over four minutes to go, but NSU would close out the game by knocking down free throws, securing the 82-72 victory over Newman.

UP NEXT
The Jets will host Rogers State for the final home game of the season on Saturday, Feb. 20^th with tip-off at 3:30 P.M.


LISTEN, WATCH & FOLLOW LIVE
Video streams for all of Newman's regular season contests are available on a pay per view basis on the MIAA Network. Events are available live and is immediately archived for on-demand viewing at the conclusion of the event at www.themiaanetwork.com/newman and on the MIAA Network apps for Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku. Listen along to all of the Newman Jets games on The Jets Audio Network with Blake Cripps on the call at newmanjets.com/listen. You can find all things Newman in the Newman Jets Athletics app available in both the App Store and on Google Play.