Box Score

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MANKATO, Minn. – The Northeastern State University men's basketball team ended its season in the 2013 NCAA Division II Championship first round. The RiverHawks fell 70-57 to Winona State University Saturday afternoon inside the Taylor Center.
 
NSU ended the year at 19-9 overall record and in its first trip to the NCAA Tourney since winning the national championship in 2003. The RiverHawks landed the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Central Regional, while the Warriors (25-7) boasted the No. 2 seed.
 
In his final collegiate game, senior forward Jermaine Bransford picked up his 14th career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Bryton Hobbs led the RiverHawks with 17 points, and senior guard Ethan Anderson added 11.
 
WSU jumped on top 8-0 before Anderson was finally able to stop the bleeding with a layup at the 17:57 mark. Winona State stretched its lead to as many as 10 points throughout the half as Northeastern State was forced to play catch up following the early struggles.
 
An Anderson three with 16 seconds to play in the opening half cut the lead to seven, but two free throws from Xavier Humphrey with three seconds left allowed the Warriors to take a 36-27 lead into halftime.
 
Northeastern State exploded out of the locker room, using a quick 10-2 run to get back into the contest. Humphrey converted an and-one opportunity to push the lead back out to four, but a Bransford jumper and a 1-for-2 effort from the line on the next possession cut the deficit back to one.
 
Neither team scored over the course of the next two minutes, but a Grant Johnson triple at the 14:47 mark gave WSU a 44-40 advantage. Hobbs made a pair of free throws at 13:59, and a Bransford dunk in transition at 12:06 tied the game at 46-46.
 
Northeastern State had plenty of chances to take its first lead of the game, but a turnover from Hobbs led to a three from Tyler Cameron at 10:49. More empty possessions from NSU and clutch shots from Winona State were all the Warriors needed to take a 57-48 lead and take back the momentum. The RiverHawks were forced to change up their offense the rest of the game and could never quite mount a comeback as the Warriors pulled away for the 13-point triumph.
 
Clayton Vette led Winona State with 18 points. Humphrey added 15 and Johnson scored 13. Northeastern State shot just 35 percent (18-for-52) from the field, and WSU held a 41-30 rebounding advantage. The Warriors also shot 46 percent (24-for-52) from the field.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH LARRY GIPSON
Opening Statement….
“We started the game out like an inexperienced team that had not been here before, which is what we are. Our play showed some tension and some nervousness, and we got off to a very sluggish start. At halftime, we talked about the things we needed to do and the intensity we needed to play with. We came out in the second half, and for the first 10 minutes I thought we played competitively. We got the score tied with about 12 minutes to go. We had a turnover that led to a three and a missed block out that allowed (Winona State) to go up five. From that point on, we were on our heels. The further you go in the season, you must minimize mistakes. We made too many mistakes to win a game of this magnitude against a team like Winona State.”
 
“They are very well-coached. They've got a good collection of players who are very sound offensively. Obviously, Clayton Vette poses a huge problem for people at our level. For the most part, I thought we guarded him fairly well. I also think it led to some other baskets by some other people. Credit to them for not getting rattled when we tied it up. They stayed focused and patient.”


“I'm comfortable with the fact that our team did about all they could do. I'm comfortable with the fact that, realistically, Winona State is a better basketball team. I think we had our opportunity, but we didn't take advantage of it. My hats off to them, and I hope they can advance.”
 
“On a personal note, I told our team that this is a special team for me. We entered into a new league this year. I had some health issues last year and didn't coach. I thought our kids did a great job coming back and fighting through some things. We're entering into a new arena next year, and we're going to hang the first sports banner of any team with this NCAA Tournament trip. All in all, I would say it was a good year.”
 
On Jermaine Bransford…
“Jermaine Bransford's personal journey with me has been up and down, bumpy to say the least. But I've never been more proud of a young man then I am with him. He played for us two years ago and redshirted last year. He complied with everything we asked him to do, and he came back and had an outstanding season. I'm proud to say that Jermaine is in a position where he is probably going to graduate this summer. That's the most important thing to me. I think this young man is really going to do something with his life.”
 
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