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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State University men's basketball team (5-0) will take its undefeated record on the road to Searcy, Ark., for a clash with fellow undefeated foe Harding University (4-0). Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Rhodes Field House.
 
The last time NSU traveled to Searcy was Nov. 19, 2009, and Harding earned a 68-63 victory. The RiverHawks and Bisons last played on Nov. 20, 2010, with Northeastern State collecting an 82-80 triumph.
 
SCOUTING THE BISONS
Harding is sitting at 4-0 this season after its most recent 68-63 overtime victory over No. 12 Christian Brothers. HU has also defeated Champion Baptist (92-58), St. Edward's (79-62) and Central Baptist (92-71). The Bisons are led in scoring and rebounding by Zach Roddenberry, who is scoring 21.5 points per game and grabbing 10.3 rebounds per game. Bradley Spencer scores 16.3 ppg and pulls down 6.8 rpg, and Tony Cochran comes off the bench to add 12.8 ppg. Hayden Johnson is also contributing 9.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg.
 
A PERFECT START
NSU has opened up its 2012-13 campaign on the highest of notes, posting an unblemished 5-0 mark for the first time since 2005-06. The RiverHawks also started the season 5-0 that year before dropping their first contest. Northeastern State won its opener Nov. 12 by a 78-73 margin against Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The green and white then posted a 75-60 upset triumph over then-No. 19 Arkansas Tech on Nov. 15, using a game-high 26 points from junior guard Bryton Hobbs and an 11-0 run to close out the contest. Ten different members of the team recorded at least two points and one assist in NSU's 77-48 victory over Central Bible College on Nov. 17. The team has also defeated Ecclesia (90-45) Nov. 19, which was the largest margin of victory in nearly four years. In its most recent outing, NSU went on the road to top NWOSU 83-77.
 
LEADING THE WAY
Northeastern State is led in scoring through five games by newcomer Bryton Hobbs, who is averaging 19.2 points and 5.4 assists per game. Senior guard Ethan Anderson has poured in 12.2 points per contest. Senior forward Jermaine Bransford is averaging 14.6 ppg and a team-high 6.8 rpg. Sophomore forward Landon DeMasters is contributing 8.8 points a night.
 
BRANSFORD EXPLODES FOR 31
Jermaine Bransford poured in a career-high 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Nov. 24, leading NSU to an 83-77 win. The senior forward also shot 11-for-12 from the free-throw line, and he added nine rebounds and a career-high five assists in 37 minutes. He is currently second on the team in scoring at 14.6 ppg and he leads NSU in rebounding at 6.8 rpg. He is shooting 57.8 percent (26-45) from the field and 95.5 percent (21-22) from the free-throw line.
 
LIGHTS OUT
The RiverHawks have shot lights out from the field this season, making 56 percent of their attempts from the field (141-252), 47 percent from downtown (41-87) and 88 percent from the free-throw line (80-91). Of those with at least 10 attempts, sophomore forward Landon DeMasters leads the team in shooting percentage (12-16, .750), senior guard Christian Mack is the team leader in three-point percentage (7-11, .636), and senior guard Ethan Anderson is 12-for-12 from the line. Senior forward Jermaine Bransford, DeMasters and Anderson are a combined 50-for-52 (96 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
MIAA NETWORK TO TELEVISE NSU
The Northeastern State men's and women's basketball road games against Lincoln University will be televised by the MIAA Network. The contests will be one of just three league doubleheaders being aired by the network, which is available locally on Cox Oklahoma Channels 3 and 703, and on KSMO Channel 62 in Kansas City. The RiverHawks' games against the Blue Tigers have been moved up a half hour to accommodate the network's broadcast schedule. The women's game will now begin at 1:07 p.m., while the men's game is now slated for a 3:07 p.m. tip. Both contests will be in Jason Gym on Lincoln's campus. It will be the first meeting for both programs as league rivals, as NSU is currently in its inaugural campaign in the MIAA. NSU will kick off the MIAA Network's basketball slate, which will feature three doubleheaders and the men's and women's tournament championship games. In addition to NSU's Dec. 8 contests, the MIAA Network will also broadcast the Feb. 23 doubleheader between Nebraska Kearny and Missouri Western and the March 2 doubleheader between Central Missouri and Washburn. The network will close out the regular season on March 10 with the MIAA Women's and Men's Basketball Championship games, which will be played at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
 
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