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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team is set to play host to Missouri Western State at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 inside the NSU Event Center (3,100). Both the RiverHawks (7-2, 2-0 MIAA) and Griffons (6-3, 1-0 MIAA) are undefeated in league play. NSU is receiving votes in the NABC Coaches' Poll, while MWSU was receiving votes until this week.

MWSU holds a 3-1 advantage over NSU since the RiverHawks joined the NCAA in 1996-97, but Northeastern State won last year's meeting in St. Joseph, Mo., by a 73-61 margin. Bryton Hobbs recorded a then-career-high 32 points in the contest. Missouri Western State has won meetings in Emporia, Kan. (74-73 on Nov. 25, 2006), in Tahlequah (56-55 on Nov. 15, 2004) and in St. Joseph (63-48 on Nov. 29, 2003). MWSU was selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to finish 11th in the league, while NSU was picked fourth.

(RV) Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	10	Landon DeMasters	6-4, 200	Jr-1L	8.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg	Van Alstyne, Texas
F	15	Marcus Sheppard	6-4, 205	Sr-1L	7.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg	Vivian, La.
F	22	Curtis Evans	6-7, 215	Jr-TR	9.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg	Springdale, Ark.
G	03	Bryton Hobbs	6-0, 170	Sr-1L	24.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg	St. Louis, Mo.
G	20	Dalen Qualls	6-1, 180	Jr-TR	8.8 ppg, 1.2 apg	Stratford, Okla.
Missouri Western State's Probable Starters
F	24	Cedric Clinckscales	6-7, 230	Sr.	9.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg	Anderson, S.D.
F	33	Dzenan Mrkaljevic	6-8, 215	Sr.	9.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg	Fishers, Ind.
G	00	Adarius Fulton	6-2, 175	Sr.	9.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg	Lithonia, Ga.
G	01	Cortrez Colbert	6-2, 180	Jr.	14.9 ppg, 3.2 apg	Spencer, Okla.
G	03	Ryan Devers	5-9, 170	Jr.	14.7 ppg, 4.6 apg	Tulsa, Okla.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western State currently owns a 6-3 overall record with a 1-0 mark in the MIAA. The Griffons are currently on pace for their first winning season since 2009-10 (18-12). They finished last year at 10-17 overall and 13th in the conference with a 6-12 mark. The team is riding a three-game win streak that includes a marquee 82-79 overtime triumph over preseason MIAA favorite Fort Hays State. Cortrez Colbert leads the squad in scoring at 14.9 points per game, and Ryan Devers is right behind at 14.7 ppg. MWSU has started the same five in all nine games this year, and they all average at least 9.0 ppg. Cedric Clinkscales (9.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg) is the team's top rebounder.
 
HOBBS LEADS THE WAY
Senior guard Bryton Hobbs is currently leading the entire MIAA and is ninth in the nation in points per game (24.7). He is also ninth nationally in total points scored and ranks fourth in the league in assists (5.1) and third in minutes played (33.7). Hobbs has scored at least 20 points in all but one game this season. He also has two double-digit rebounding efforts and six games with at least five helpers. He has led the RiverHawks in scoring and assists in every game so far this season, and he has also led in rebounding three times, steals four times and blocks once.
 
HOBBS NAMED MIAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bryton Hobbs was named the MIAA Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week on Dec. 9. Northeastern State was the only team in the MIAA to pick up two road victories that weekend, and Hobbs was an integral part of the team's success. He scored a career-high 36 points and added seven assists in an 83-74 win at Lindenwood. The point total was the second-highest recorded by an MIAA player in a single game this season (Rashaad Brown-Peterson of Southwest Baptist had 40 against Missouri S&T). The leading scorer in the conference also dropped a game-high 21 in an 87-72 win at Lincoln, while adding five rebounds and five assists. For the week, Hobbs averaged 28.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds. He shot 53 percent (17-for-32) from the field, 55 percent (6-for-11) from downtown and 74 percent (17-for-23) at the line. The honor was the second of Hobbs' career (Jan. 21, 2013).
 
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN KC
The 2013 MIAA Women's Basketball Championship is set to take place inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The top 12 teams in the regular season all qualify for postseason play, with the top four earning byes to Kansas City. The first round will be contested at host sites March 4, with the fifth seed hosting No. 12, the sixth seed hosting No. 11, etc. Those four winners will join the top four seeds in KC March 7-9.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE CURRENTLY RECEIVING VOTES
Northeastern State is currently receiving 11 votes in the latest NABC/Division II national rankings. NSU began the season as the No. 17-ranked team in the nation and vaulted as high as No. 10 before plummeting out of the national polls. The RiverHawks earned a top-25 rank in the first three installments.
 
STARTING OFF RIGHT
NSU began the season with decisive victories over Ecclesia (102-65) and Hillsdale Free Will Baptist (101-61). The two-game outburst marked the first time in the Larry Gipson era that an NSU squad has scored 100 points in back-to-back games. It also the first time since the 2000-01 campaign that NSU recorded multiple 100-point games in the same season. Those that scored in double figures in those games were Bryton Hobbs (both games), Landon DeMasters (2), Keon Littleton (2), Michael Harmon (2), Curtis Evans, and Marcus Sheppard.
 
RIVERHAWKS EARN PRESEASON RANK OF #10
The Northeastern State men's basketball team was slotted at No. 10 in the 2013-14 preseason rankings by Division II Bulletin. The RiverHawks are coming off a 2012-13 campaign where they finished 19-9 overall and competed in the NCAA Championship tournament for the first time in 10 years. Division II Bulletin has selected a preseason Top 25 every year since 1991 and is celebrating its 23rd anniversary this season. NSU was selected as the top team in the MIAA and the second-highest team in the Central Region (Minnesota State). Bryton Hobbs was selected, along with Dwayne Brunson of Fort Hays State, as the two members from the Central Region to be named DIIB Super 16 selections.
 
NSU's GIPSON IN 17TH SEASON
NSU's Larry Gipson (Heidelberg College, '74) is in his 17th season as the RiverHawks head coach. The long-time leader of the men's basketball program enters the year with a 264-188 record over his illustrious career at NSU. He is second all-time in school history behind only Jack Dobbins (314 wins) in career wins, and his .584 winning percentage is the best in school history. He reached the 100- and 200-win milestones faster than any other coach in school history. Gipson has posted nine winning seasons in his time at NSU, and those include five 20-win campaigns and a national championship in 2002-03 (32-3 record). He has also led Northeastern State to five appearances in the NCAA tournament (1999-03, 2013). The 2003 NCAA title was the first for Northeastern State in any sport and the first national championship won in RiverHawks basketball history. Gipson was inducted into the NSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 for his outstanding coaching feat. Gipson and Nolan Richardson are the only two head coaches ever to lead teams to a national championship at both the NCAA and NJCAA level. Gipson, Richardson and Ray Harper (NCAA D-II, NAIA) are the only three coaches in college basketball history to win national titles at two different levels.
 
THE NEW EVENT CENTER
The Northeastern State basketball programs have opened play in the new 78,200 square foot NSU Event Center. The newly-constructed facility houses the basketball offices and the NSU athletic administration. The project has cost north of $17 million and the arena is located adjacent to Doc Wadley Stadium on the north side of the NSU campus. The RiverHawks began play in the new arena on Nov. 9, 2013, and they picked up a 102-65 victory over Ecclesia.
 
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
The NSU Athletics Department announced its season ticket packages for the home portion of the men's and women's basketball schedule. Adult general admission prices can be purchased for $125, and the season chair back seats are $200. Season ticket holders receive the benefit of sitting in comfortable chair back seats. They also receive first option to purchase playoff tickets, premier seating for NSU's 13 home games, excellent view of the playing surface and premier seating in the new 78,200 square foot multipurpose event center. New for 2013 is the $25 single-game Family 4-Pack, which includes two general admission adult tickets and two general admission student tickets (ages 4 through high school). The Family 4-Pack may be purchased at any time and used at any regular season home game. All Northeastern State home men's and women's basketball games are contested at the NSU Event Center.
 
ID'S REQUIRED FOR ENTRY IN 2013
All fans wishing to attend an NSU home football or basketball contest this season will be required to show a ticket prior to entering the facilities. NSU students and faculty/staff will still be allowed free admittance, but NSU ID's will no longer be accepted as a form of entry. Tickets can be purchased at NSU's new ticketing Web site, goriverhawkstickets.com. NSU students and faculty/staff can access goriverhawkstickets.com and secure their free tickets (either printable or downloaded to your smart phone) through their goNSU accounts. For questions regarding ticket options, please contact Brynn Hamner at 918.444.3901.
 
GO RIVERHAWKS GEAR
Northeastern State University Athletics has partnered with Advanced-Online and has launced its new, one-of-a-kind online shopping site, goriverhawksgear.com. NSU fans have another avenue for acquiring Northeastern State apparel and accessories. The store is loaded with options for fans of all ages, ranging from T-shirts, polos and sweatshirts, to home office supplies, drinkware and kitchen essentials. Every item is branded with official Northeastern State athletics and university logos, and select RiverHawks gear and accessories are customizable. The new online store can be accessed by simply visiting www.goriverhawksgear.com. The shop can also be viewed by clicking on the shopping cart at the top right of www.goriverhawksgo.com, the static graphic underneath the main picture or the rotating horizontal carousel just above the video player.