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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team will head north for a bout with Pittsburg State at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 inside John Lance Arena (3,250). The RiverHawks (11-7, 6-5 MIAA) are just 2-4 on the road this season and are free-falling down the MIAA standings after losing five of their last six games, while the Gorillas (6-10, 2-7 MIAA) are 4-3 at home and are on a four-game losing streak.

PSU owns a 5-4 record against NSU since the RiverHawks joined the NCAA in 1996-97. The two squads have split the series in each of the last two years. PSU was selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to finish eighth, NSU was selected to place fourth.

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	10	Landon DeMasters	6-4, 200	Jr-1L	7.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg	Van Alstyne, Texas
F	15	Marcus Sheppard	6-4, 205	Sr-1L	8.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg	Vivian, La.
F	22	Curtis Evans	6-7, 215	Jr-TR	10.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg	Springdale, Ark.
G	03	Bryton Hobbs	6-0, 170	Sr-1L	23.8 ppg, 5.4 apg	St. Louis, Mo.
G	20	Dalen Qualls	6-1, 180	Jr-TR	10.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg	Stratford, Okla.
Pittsburg State's Probable Starters
F	32	Trevor Gregory	6-7, 235	Fr.	5.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg	Lee's Summit, Mo.
F	33	Connor Kjer	6-6, 205	Jr.	4.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg	La Habra, Calif.
G	01	Jake Bullard	6-5, 190	So.	14.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg	Cleora, Okla.
G	05	Devon Branch	6-6, 180	Jr.	19.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg	Aberdeen, Md.
G	21	Sam Pugh	6-0, 180	Jr.	10.9 ppg, 3.1 apg	Branson, Mo.

 
SCOUTING THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State owns a 6-10 mark this year with a 2-7 record in the MIAA. The Gorillas have lost their last four in a row, falling to Emporia State (83-75), Washburn (83-80), Nebraska-Kearney (82-80), and Fort Hays State (78-75). Devon Branch leads the squad in scoring and is third in the MIAA at 19.8 ppg, and he is second in rebounding at 4.8 rpg. Jake Bullard is second on the team in scoring and leads PSU in rebounding (14.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg). Sam Pugh (10.9 ppg) also averages double-digit scoring.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT - WU 75, NSU 63
Northeastern State fell 75-63 at Washburn Jan. 25 inside Lee Arena. The RiverHawks continued their free-fall down the league standings, as they have now lost five of their last six games after starting the MIAA season 5-0. Bryton Hobbs did not start for the first time in his two-year career, but he was still able to lead all scorers with 24 points. Curtis Evans was the only other member of the team in double figures, as he finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. NSU shot 36.7 percent (22-for-60) from the field, 32 percent (8-for-25) from behind the three-point line and 68.8 percent (11-for-16) at the free-throw line. Washburn hit 43.1 percent (25-for-58) from the field, 34.5 percent (10-for-29) from downtown and 62.5 percent (15-for-24) at the line. Leon Flowers led WU with 22 points, and Korey Fisher poured in 20. Kyle Wiggins added 13, and Alex North finished with 10 points and 20 rebounds.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - PSU 89, NSU 59
NSU got routed by 40 points to Pittsburg State on Feb. 16, 2013 inside John Lance Arena. The RiverHawks recorded their worst loss of the 2012-13 season, while the Gorillas were able to exact revenge from a 64-62 defeat at the hands of NSU back on Jan. 23. Bryton Hobbs led NSU with 16 points and five assists in 35 minutes. Jermaine Bransford added 12 points, and 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.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE DROPS OUT OF POLLS
Northeastern State fell out of the NABC/Division II national rankings on Jan. 21 and has yet to return. 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 and were receiving votes every week after until the Jan. 21 rankings.
 
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN KC
The 2014 MIAA Men'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.