Ja Havens' debut at Northeastern State got off to a sour note Saturday with the RiverHawks failing to make a late comeback and dropped their season opener to Emporia State 76-66 inside the NSU Event Center.

Northeastern State will have a much different look Saturday when it opens its basketball season at the NSU Event Center.

Northeastern State won its second straight game to start the season Saturday, defeating Missouri Western, 82-74, at NSU Event Center behind senior Cenia Hayes’ game-high 24 points.

Northeastern State scored 42 points in the paint and defeated Northwest Missouri, 64-56, Thursday at the NSU Event Center to win its first season opener since 2017.

When it comes to overall experience and star power, Northeastern State appears to be in great shape heading into the 2020-21 basketball season.

Senior women’s basketball guard Cenia Hayes is the first four-year player at Northeastern State University under head coach Fala Bullock. She’s the go-to player for the RiverHawks on the court and in the community as the fan base grows.

Both Northeastern State basketball teams have been picked to finish near the bottom of the MIAA Preseason Coaches Polls that were released Tuesday.

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced on Thursday that it’s moving forward with the 2020-21 men’s and women’s basketball seasons.

Northeastern State has added a high profile quarterback to its roster.

By now, Doc Wadley Stadium on the north side of Northeastern State University’s campus is typically hosting back-to-back football games with the Tigers and RiverHawks flying up and down the gridiron.

Northeastern State football will head south of the Red River for the first time in nearly a decade this spring. The RiverHawks will face a newly minted NCAA Division I program, Tarleton State, on March 27, 2021in Stephenville.

Running game (Advantage: OU)

The Oklahoma home game experience will not be the same this season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.OU will reduce Oklahoma Memorial Stadium’s capacity to 25% and introduce enhanced health and safety measures throughout the venue.OU begins its 2020 against Missouri Stateat 6 p.m. today, which will host roughly 20,300 spectators in the seating bowl and 2,400 others in suites and loge boxes if all available seats are occupied.Here are a few important notes for those planning on attending the game:Mask policyFans will be required to wear a cloth or surgical-style mask that covers both the nose and mouth while inside Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, as well as on campus, during a game.Not every face covering will be accepted, including clear face shields, gaiters, buffs, bandanas or masks with valves. Although ifyour mask does not meet OU’s requirements, approved masks will be available for purchase on campus.SeatingOU’s home games will look more like a game in the fourth quarter with a lopsided score, but for the entire game.OU has reduced its stadium capacity, pivoting to “family” seating pods of 2 to 8 tickets.Seats will be arranged to allow for no one to have someone sit behind or in front of them to allow for social distancing. Each pod will also have direct access to an aisle.The minimum space between any two pods in the stadium is three seats.OU will also block off the front six rows of the stadium.TicketsOU’s home game tickets will be digital this season. Attendees can access their tickets with the SoonerSports2Go app. Tickets can also be transferred through the same app.The university says there will be barriers at all ticket booths.Ticket resolution areas can be found at Gates 5 and 7, or at the main ticket office.Tickets will have preferred gate entry locations based on spectators’ seats.There will be an increased number of express lanes throughout the stadium for spectators not bringing in a bag.ConcessionsOU’s myriad concession stands will be 100% cashless this year and offer a new way to order select items.Spectators can place concession-stand orders on the SoonerSports2Go app and retrieve their items at designated pick-up locations.OU will continue its refillable popcorn and soda program this season; although, concession stands will provided prepackaged items for spectators to transfer into their personal containers.The concession stand’s mobile ordering feature will also extend to retail and chairback purchases.ParkingThe SoonerSports2Go app is equipped with WAZE, which will help attendees find designated parking lots. SoonerSports.com has a complete parking map for those that wish to plan ahead.Also, the Lloyd Noble Center bus shuttle will only be available to “at-risk (65 and over) and ADA patrons,” according to the athletics department.TailgatingOU has prohibited tailgating on its campus and parking areas for the 2020 season.Other tailgating-esque events, including the Boomer Bash, Sooner Club Tailgate, Tailgate Guys, Varsity O Tailgate and Walk of Champions are also canceled.Other notes• Restroom and elevator capacity will be limited to allow for distancing• Over 200 hand sanitizer stations will be accessible throughout the stadium• OU will continue to police its clear-bag policy• Concourse seating will be reduced or eliminated in certain areas of the venue.• Apple Pay will be accepted at all concession and retail stands.• Cash-to-card kiosks will be stationed throughout the stadium.

OU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch anticipated a major role for Tre Norwood in his secondary a year ago.

Caleb Kelly almost had a tough choice to make last season.

NORMAN — Spencer Rattler will start his first contest as Oklahoma's quarterback in a week’s time, and the shoes he’s expected to fill are enormous.

Friday was a historic but harsh day for Northeastern State and its football program.

OU will begin the 2020 season ranked No. 6 in the Amway Coaches Poll.

There was very little routine about Oklahoma State football beginning fall camp Wednesday.

The Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association has rolled out guidelines for the start of fall activities.

Eight future Northeastern State football players participated in the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association All-State game Saturday at Oklahoma Baptist University’s Crain Family Stadium in Shawnee.

Three of the 10 Northeastern State men’s basketball signees are frontcourt players.

Head coach Ja Havens has brought aboard Obi Agu, Jack Rusch and Trey Sampson in his first recruiting class at NSU.

Ja Havens’ first signing class needed some immediate help at the guard positions.

Northeastern State men’s basketball head coach Ja Havens has completed his 2020 signing class.

Former Northeastern State guard Kendrick Thompson has signed a professional contract with the Olimpi Tbilisi of the Georgian Basketball Super League.

The start to Northeastern State University’s 2020 football season has just been pushed back further due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced on Monday a plan to delay the start of all sports to the week of Sept. 28. Intercollegiate athletic practices will not begin until the week of Aug. 31.

Ramsey Turnage and De’Narrius Morgan are the latest additions to a long list of 2020 Northeastern State football signees.

After four stints as interim athletic director at Northeastern State, Matt Cochran’s moment has arrived.

Cochran was introduced as the new NSU Director of Athletics in what was an emotional press conference Wednesday morning at the NSU Event Center.

After her senior season was cut short due to the pandemic, Emma Warnock was officially done playing competitive tennis for Northeastern State University. Despite the tragic finale, she looks back on her time with the team as an enormous treasure and blessing. Warnock says that while she play…

• Editor’s note: There are more questions than answers regarding when, and how, college football will begin again. Each week until next season, The Transcript will produce its Watch List to monitor developments, setbacks or points of interest surrounding college football’s anticipated return.

The official trailer begins with Maggie Nichols in a place she is comfortable, in the gym working through a routine.

When ESPN personality Bomani Jones saw Mike Gundy wearing the “One America News” T-shirt on Twitter, he didn’t think it was a big deal – it was just Gundy expressing what he’s about.

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association released 2021 schedules for baseball and softball on Friday.