Box Score

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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team earned a 90-45 victory over Ecclesia College Monday night at Jack Dobbins Field House.
 
The 45-point triumph was the largest margin of victory for the undefeated RiverHawks (4-0) in nearly four years. NSU defeated Hillsdale College by 62 points on Dec. 8, 2009 (99-37).
 
Northeastern State was led in scoring by Marcus Sheppard. The junior forward was 9-of-11 shooting from the field for 19 points. He also added a game-high eight rebounds and two blocks.
 
Junior guard Bryton Hobbs filled the stat sheet with 15 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Senior guard Ethan Anderson added 11 points and five rebounds, and senior guard Jon Miller joined sophomore forwards Landon DeMasters and Dakota Caudill with nine points each.
 
Northeastern State shot a blistering 67 percent from the field (40-for-60), and the team also knocked down 7 of 13 from behind the three-point line. NSU had 25 assists to just 11 turnovers, and the RiverHawks also recorded nine blocks for the second-straight game.
 
NSU received 30 points from its bench, 44 points in the paint and 18 off the fast break.
 
The Royals (0-6) were led in scoring by Brandon Brzozkiewicz's 18 points. Rashad Colbert added 13, and Levi Brooks recorded a game-high four steals.
 
EC shot just 28 percent from the field (17-for-60), 20 percent from downtown (5-for-25) and 50 percent from the charity stripe (6-for-12).
 
The RiverHawks will hit the road for the first time this season as the team travels to Alva, Okla., for a 3 p.m. meeting Nov. 24 with Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
 
NSU and NWOSU opened up the season in Tahlequah, with the green and white earning a 78-73 victory.
 
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HEAD COACH LARRY GIPSON
On what he takes away from the victory…
”The big thing we were looking for tonight was an improvement in our defensive play, especially in our defensive rebounding. We gave up 19 offensive rebounding to Central Bible College and I thought that was entirely too many. That's something we have to shore up, and I think we did a much better job of that with only allowing eight to Ecclesia.”
 
On Brandon Brzozkiewicz's performance…
“We said going in that he was an excellent shooter from anywhere, and he proved us right. He's just one of those guys that he's in range the second he steps on the floor. He was able to make shots under pressure, even when we were in good position. He even had a four-point play.”
 
On Marcus Sheppard's 19-point effort…
“I'm really happy to see Marcus Sheppard play well because he's been struggling. He's shown a lot of brilliance in flashes and in practice, but he hasn't been comfortable in games. We've just been waiting and hoping that he would have a breakout night where he can get some confidence. We have a lot of faith that he's going to be an excellent player. I thought he did a great job tonight of reading screens and getting himself open properly. He was ready to make a play when he caught the ball.”
 
On the first road game of the season…
“We have to use the next few days judiciously. We need good practices this week, and we have to go in there with the mindset that this is going to be a tough game because it certainly is. Northwestern Oklahoma State is an excellent basketball team, and you can see that by how they went on the road to Fort Hays State last Saturday and beat a team that is one of the top five teams in our league. We've got our work cut out for us.”