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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team will begin a three-game road stint with a trip to Joplin, Mo. The RiverHawks (13-4, 6-3 MIAA) are set to face Missouri Southern State (9-7, 4-4 MIAA) inside Leggett & Platt Athletic Center (3,200).
 
Northeastern State has met Missouri Southern State each of the past 15 years dating back to the 1997-98 campaign. The Lions hold a 9-7 record against the RiverHawks, which includes a current three-game win streak.
 
The last time NSU defeated MSSU was on Dec. 12, 2009 (87-76). The last time NSU defeated MSSU in Joplin was on Dec. 7, 2004 (75-61).
 
MSSU was selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to finish sixth in the league, while NSU was picked 14th.

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	10	Landon DeMasters	6-4, 200	So-RS	7.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg	Van Alstyne, Texas
F	15	Marcus Sheppard	6-4, 205	Jr-TR	6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg	Vivian, La.
F	21	Jermaine Bransford	6-7, 225	Sr-1L	15.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg	Sand Springs, Okla.
G	3	Bryton Hobbs	6-0, 170	Jr-TR	17.8 ppg, 4.8 apg	St. Louis, Mo.
G	20	Ethan Anderson	6-3, 205	Sr-3L	11.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg	Cleburne, Texas
Missouri Southern State's Probable Starters
F	21	Jordan Talbert	6-5, 200	Jr.	12.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg	Little Rock, Ark.
F	22	Stephen Atkinson	6-6, 190	So.	9.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg	Benton, Ky.
G	5	RJ Leverette	6-0, 165	So.	5.6 ppg, 3.4 apg	Kansas City, Mo.
G	31	Morgan Smith	5-11, 175	So.	4.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg	Overland Park, Kan.
G	34	Marquis Addison	6-4, 180	Jr.	18.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg	Olathe, Kan.

 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern State owns a 9-7 record this season with a 4-4 mark in the MIAA. The Lions have dropped their last two outings to Nebraska Kearney (74-66) and at Emporia State (76-62). The team owns league victories over Truman State (70-56), Missouri Western (95-69), Lincoln (99-80), and Pittsburg State (87-80). MSSU is tied with Fort Hays State and Central Oklahoma for seventh in the league table. Marquis Addison is third in the MIAA in scoring (18.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg), and Jordan Talbert ranks fourth in the league in rebounding (12.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg).
 
WHERE THEY STAND
Northeastern State currently owns a 6-3 record in its first season in the MIAA. The RiverHawks sit in third in the league table and stand a half game behind Northwest Missouri State (6-2). Central Missouri leads the way at 7-1, with Lindenwood a half game behind Northeastern State. NSU was selected to finish 14th in the conference this season by both the media and the league coaches.
 
HOBBS SNAGS WEEKLY MIAA ACCOLADE
Bryton Hobbs was honored as the MIAA Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week on Jan. 21. The junior guard led Northeastern State to a 2-0 mark, which included a road triumph over rival Central Oklahoma and a home win over No. 10 Washburn. He averaged 22 points per game and made 27 of 30 free-throw attempts (90 percent). He played 79 of a possible 80 minutes over the two-game stretch, and he recorded a career-high four steals against UCO and seven assists against the Ichabods. He scored 19 points against Central Oklahoma, had five rebounds and went 13-for-13 from the free-throw line. He dropped 25 points and knocked down three treys against the No. 10-ranked Ichabods.
 
 
THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Senior forward Jermaine Bransford entered 2012-13 with just one double-digit rebounding effort and no career double doubles. He recorded his first double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds Dec. 5 against Emporia State, and he now has reached at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in eight of his last 11 games. He also has near double-doubles against Arkansas Tech (eight points, 12 boards), Northwestern Oklahoma State (31 points, nine boards), Harding (12 points, eight rebounds), and Central Oklahoma (22 points, nine rebounds). Over his last 13 games, Bransford is averaging 16.8 ppg (219 total points) and 10.7 rpg (139 total rebounds). He leads the MIAA in rebounding this season with 9.6 rpg.
 
BRILLIANT BRYTON
Northeastern State received a welcomed addition in the offseason in junior transfer Bryton Hobbs. The guard from St. Louis, Mo., has come to Tahlequah via both Pratt Community College and Cowley College. He has taken the MIAA by storm in his first season with the RiverHawks, as he is currently the league's fourth-leading scorer at 17.8 ppg, and he is fifth in assists with 4.8 dimes a night.

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