Coatta and Rihanek propel Northeast over Hastings College JV

NORFOLK, Neb. – Seth Coatta (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Caleb Rihanek (Spencer, Neb.) both tallied 21 points on Monday night, helping the Northeast Community College men's basketball team take down Hastings College JV 96-73 at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk.

Within a two-minute stretch to start the first half, Rihanek nailed two 3-pointers to give the Hawks (10-10) an early 11-10 lead and it was just the beginning of a strong offensive showing for the sharp-shooting forward.

Later in the half, Coatta hit a long-range 3-pointer that tied the game at 26, but it was Coatta again that gave Northeast a two-point lead off a layup less than a minute later. Both Rihanek and Coatta made their presence known later in the first half when they combined for a total of 12 points in a three-minute span.

Early in the second half, Coatta gave the Hawks a 10-point cushion, but Rihanek followed with another 3-pointer seconds later. The Hawks began to push their lead as Joel Ufele (London, United Kingdom) and Coatta had back-to-back dunks that was followed by a 3-pointer from Daniel Akuei (Melbourne, Australia) that gave Northeast a 20-point lead with 7:29 to play.

In the final minutes of the game, it was Rihanek that put the game out of reach for the Broncos, after banking home a 3-pointer. He finished 7-of-11 from the field, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out two assists. Coatta was 9-of-16 from the field with six boards and two assists.

Ufele added a double-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Emmette Page (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) nearly had a double-double with 14 points, nine assists, four rebounds and four steals as did Akuei who chipped in nine points and 10 boards.

The Hawks shot 54 percent from the field and 42 percent from the three-point line.

Northeast square off with Highway 81-foe Central Community College at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night at the Raider Fieldhouse in Columbus, Neb.

Fans can receive three-dollar admission to the game if they donate three or more canned food items to support the Raider Food and Hygiene Pantry.

For all news related to Northeast Community College athletics, visit northeasthawks.com for complete coverage. Fans can also follow the Hawks on Twitter @NortheastHawks for game-day coverage.