Box Score

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PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team dropped an 89-59 decision to Pittsburg State Saturday afternoon inside John Lance Arena.
 
The RiverHawks (17-7, 10-6 MIAA) recorded their worst loss of the season, while the Gorillas (15-7, 9-5 MIAA) were able to exact revenge from a 64-62 defeat at the hands of NSU back on Jan. 23.
 
Northeastern State had not lost by more than 12 points this season and all six previous losses were by a combined 34 points.
 
Junior guard Bryton Hobbs led NSU with 16 points and five assists in 35 minutes. Senior forward Jermaine Bransford added 12 points, and fellow senior forward John Schneider added eight points and eight rebounds off the bench.
 
NSU shot just 33 percent (19-for-57) from the field, 39 percent (7-for-18) beyond the arc and 82 percent (14-for-17) at the charity stripe.
 
The Gorillas shot a scorching 57 percent (32-for-56) from the field, 53 percent (9-for-17) from distance and 84 percent (16-for-19) from the free-throw line.
 
Marky Nolen paced PSU with 22 points. JaVon McGee recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Kaleb Porter posted 15 points, eight assists and six boards.
 
Sophomore forward Landon DeMasters scored the game's opening basket to put NSU on top 2-0, but the home side scored eight unanswered points and never looked back.
 
Pittsburg State led 50-31 at the half and cruised to the 30-point victory.
 
Northeastern State will take a week off before heading to Emporia, Kan., for a 5:30 p.m. meeting Feb. 23 with Emporia State University.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE HEAD COACH LARRY GIPSON
On the game…
”Our guys showed up only because it was a game on our schedule, but Pittsburg State showed up to kick our tails. We never looked competitive from the opening jump to the final buzzer.”
 
On Pittsburg State…
“These teams are good and Pittsburg State is no exception. They are an excellent ball club. You have to be able to bring it on a high level every night and we just don't have the maturity right now to do that. We practiced with a lot of complacency over the last two days. We weren't as focused and as sharp as we need to be at this point in the season. We just assume that because we beat somebody the first time that's all there is to it.”
 
On how the team rebounds going forward…
“We have five days to practice and get better before we head to Emporia. It's our job as coaches to make sure we help prepare them, but the basketball team needs to make a decision on if they want to improve or not. If our attitude and effort is right, then we can beat anybody in this league. There is a consequence to not bringing it on a nightly basis, and we showed that tonight. We got beat soundly.”
 
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