TV: MIAA Network
Play-by-Play - Neil Harwell
Color Commentator - Rich Zvosec

Game Notes  I  Live Stats  I  Live Video

Like NSU Men's Basketball on Facebook  I  Follow NSU Men's Basketball on Twitter

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team will travel to Jefferson City, Mo., for its first road MIAA contest against Lincoln. The matchup between the RiverHawks (6-1, 1-0 MIAA) and Blue Tigers (2-7, 1-0 MIAA) will take place on the MIAA Network at 3:07 p.m. Dec. 8 at Jason Gym (2,400).
 
Neil Harwell is set to call the action, with Rich Zvosec providing color commentary. This will be the first meeting between the two programs as NCAA affiliates. The game will be available on KSMO Channel 62 in Kansas City, and Cox Cable 3 or 703 in Oklahoma.
 
SCOUTING THE BLUE TIGERS
Lincoln owns a 2-7 overall mark with a 1-0 league record. The two victories for the Blue Tigers have come against McKendree (86-72) and in their MIAA opener at Nebraska Kearney (72-61). Notable losses have been to Pittsburg State, Missouri Southern State, McKendree, Maryville, and Minnesota State Moorhead. Cedric Ridle leads the team in scoring and is second in rebounding at 18.4 ppg and 6.0 rpg. Charles Cole is second in scoring and first in rebounding at 13.4 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Sean Harris contributes 9.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg.
 
WELCOME TO THE NEW LEAGUE
Northeastern State is currently in its first season as members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The RiverHawks opened league play Dec. 5 with a 63-56 victory over Emporia State at Jack Dobbins Field House. Senior forward Jermaine Bransford led the way for the home team with his first-career double-double. He recorded 22 points, 11 rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes. Junior guard Bryton Hobbs added 18 points and six assists.
 
A PERFECT START
NSU opened the 2012-13 campaign 5-0 before dropping its first contest. The perfect start was the best since 2005-06. The RiverHawks also started the season 5-0 that year. 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 before losing its first game of the season at Harding (65-63).
 
LEADING THE WAY
Northeastern State is led in scoring by newcomer Bryton Hobbs, who is averaging 17.4 points and 5.3 assists per game. Senior guard Ethan Anderson has poured in 11.1 points per contest. Senior forward Jermaine Bransford is averaging 15.3 ppg and a team-high 7.6 rpg. Sophomore forward Landon DeMasters is contributing 7.4 points a night.
 
IN THE LEAGUE
Northeastern State leads the MIAA in three statistical categories this year. The last league statistics were released Dec. 3. The team is the league leader in field-goal percentage (.507), three point field-goal percentage (.459) and free-throw percentage (.857). The team is also second in assists (16.4), third in three point field goals made (7.3) and fourth in blocked shots (3.4). Senior guard Ethan Anderson is tops in the league in free-throw percentage (1.000) and sixth in three point field-goal percentage (.520). Senior forward Jermaine Bransford is third in free-throw percentage (.955), ninth in rebounding (7.0) and blocks (1.0), and 15th in scoring (14.2). Junior guard Bryton Hobbs ranks third in assists (5.2) and sixth in scoring (17.3).
 
LIGHTS OUT
The RiverHawks have shot lights out this season, making 51 percent of their attempts from the field (182-359), 46 percent from downtown (51-111) and 86 percent from the free-throw line (114-133). Of those with at least 10 attempts, sophomore forward Landon DeMasters leads the team in shooting percentage (15-22, .682), senior guard Christian Mack is the team leader in three-point percentage (9-15, .600), and senior guard Ethan Anderson is 12-for-12 from the line. Senior forward Jermaine Bransford, DeMasters and Anderson are a combined 58-for-61 (.951) 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.
 
-GoRiverHawksGo.com-