Box Score

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EMPORIA, Kan. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team outlasted Emporia State 67-62 Saturday evening inside William L. White Auditorium.
 
The RiverHawks improved to 18-7 overall and 11-6 in the MIAA, while dropping the Hornets to 12-12 overall and 7-9 in the league.
 
Senior forward Jermaine Bransford exploded for 23 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. He also added five steals and three assists, while shooting 9 of 10 from the free-throw line.
 
The 20-rebound effort was the most by any player in the MIAA this season and was the most for Northeastern State in its NCAA Division II era. Bransford was two rebounds shy of tying the nation's top mark for most rebounds by a player in a single game this year.
 
Junior guard Bryton Hobbs added 14 points and sophomore forward Landon DeMasters poured in 13.
 
NSU outrebounded ESU 33-28, while also winning the turnover battle (11-15). The RiverHawks shot 40 percent (21-for-52) from the field, 46 percent (5-for-11) from distance and 91 percent (20-for-22) at the charity stripe.
 
The home side shot 46 percent (24-for-52) from the field, 40 percent (8-for-20) beyond the arc and 60 percent (6-for-10) at the line.
 
Terrence Moore led Emporia State with 13 points off the bench. Paul Bunch recorded 12 points, seven rebounds and seven blocks, and Gavin Brown added 11 points. Two of ESU's top three scorers, Kaleb Wright and Chris Sights, were both held to single digits and combined for just 16 points.
 
The Hornets found an early 8-5 advantage, but Northeastern State exploded for a 14-2 run to take a 19-10 lead at the 8:45 mark of the opening half. The run was capped by a three-point basket from senior guard Jon Miller.
 
Emporia State was able to chip away at NSU's nine-point cushion, and a three from Brown with four seconds to play in the opening half gave the home side a narrow 33-32 lead at intermission.
 
There were 12 lead changes and nine ties in the contest, with seven of both coming in the final 20 minutes of action.
 
The two teams went back and forth over the course of the second half, with neither side able to find a lead of more than five points.
 
Bransford tipped in a missed shot with 3:12 to play to tie the game at 58-58, but Wright made a floater in the lane at 2:50 to put ESU ahead by two.
 
DeMasters drained a huge three on NSU's next possession to tip the scale in favor of the visitors, and NSU corralled the rebound following a missed three from Wright on Emporia State's next trip down the floor.
 
Six consecutive free throws from Hobbs (four) and Bransford (two) in the game's final minutes, coupled with a stifling effort on defense, allowed the RiverHawks to escape with the road win.
 
Northeastern State will now return home for The Farewell to Jack Dobbins Field House. NSU is set to play host to Central Oklahoma at 8 p.m. Feb. 27 in the final regular-season game to be held inside the legendary facility.
 
The Senior Day presentation will be held between the men's and women's games. There will also be a presentation to honor those who have been part of the 58-year history of JDF, and NSU's 2003 NCAA National Championship team will also be celebrating the 10-year history of the historic title run.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE HEAD COACH LARRY GIPSON
On outlasting Emporia State in the game's final minutes…
”We played flawless basketball coming out of the under-5 media timeout. Landon (DeMasters) hit a big three (with 2:25 to play), and from that point on we stopped them on nearly every possession. Those last four minutes might have been as well as we have played during any stretch this season.”
 
On Jermaine Bransford recording 23 points and 20 rebounds…
“That was one of the best rebounding performances I have seen out of anybody. Jermaine's biggest contribution for us tonight was he was able to neutralize (Paul Bunch), who has been scoring well lately. He wasn't quick enough to stay with Jermaine, so he was able to wear him down. Jermaine played hard and played with composure tonight. The key to Jermaine's success is how well he can stay composed, and he did a good job of that tonight.”
 
On Marcus Sheppard's defensive performance…
“Marcus Sheppard's stat line doesn't really do him justice for the job he did on Chris Sights. Sights was coming off a 29-point game against Pittsburg State on Wednesday, and he just took over that game. He could not get off against us, and Marcus was the main reason we were able to hold him to single digits.”
 
On rebounding from a loss to Pittsburg State last Saturday…
“Our team showed some character and fortitude tonight. (Emporia State) is not an easy place to play. For us to come in here and get a win shows something about this team. Every game is important, and I think the team is finally starting to realize that.”
 
On the team's chances of earning a bye in the MIAA Championship…
“If we win against a very good UCO team that is surging right now (on Wednesday), then we'll be right there in the discussion of getting a first-round bye. If we're as ready to play the rest of the year as we were tonight, then I like our chances.”
 
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