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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team will begin play in the second half of the season with home games against the top two scoring teams in the MIAA. The RiverHawks (9-2, 4-0 MIAA) will meet Southwest Baptist (8-5, 1-3 MIAA) at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 before playing host to Missouri Southern State (9-2, 3-1 MIAA) at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 11.

Both contests will be held inside the NSU Event Center. SBU leads the MIAA in scoring this season at 88.6 ppg, while MSSU is right behind with an 87.4 scoring clip. This will be just the second meeting between NSU and SBU since the RiverHawks joined the NCAA in 1996-97. The Bearcats earned a 68-60 home win over Northeastern State on Jan. 12 of last season.

NSU has met Missouri Southern State each of the past 16 years dating back to the 1997-98 campaign, and the 18-game series is all square at 9-9. SBU was selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to finish 12th in the league, while MSSU was picked sixth and NSU was picked fourth.

(RV) Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	15	Marcus Sheppard	6-4, 205	Sr-1L	8.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg	Vivian, La.
F	22	Curtis Evans	6-7, 215	Jr-TR	10.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg	Springdale, Ark.
G	03	Bryton Hobbs	6-0, 170	Sr-1L	23.0 ppg, 5.1 apg	St. Louis, Mo.
G	05	Keon Littleton	6-1, 185	Jr-TR	9.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg	DeSoto, Texas
G	20	Dalen Qualls	6-1, 180	Jr-TR	8.0 ppg, 1.2 apg	Stratford, Okla.
Southwest Baptist's Probable Starters
F	25	Afam Obukwelu	6-4, 215	So.	6.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg	Houston, Texas
C	34	Jaywuan Hill	6-7, 215	Sr.	5.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg	Detroit, Mich.
G	03	Preston Guiot	5-11, 185	Jr.	11.6 ppg, 7.1 apg	Bolivar, Mo.
G	20	Menas Stephens	6-4, 215	Jr.	5.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg	Los Angeles, Calif.
G	55	Rashaad Brown-Peterson	6-1, 210	Sr.	18.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg	Milwaukee, Wisc.
Missouri Southern State's Probable Starters
F	21	Jordan Talbert	6-6, 200	Sr.	13.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg	Little Rock, Ark.
C	12	Greg Renfroe	6-8, 220	So.	6.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg	Delaware, Okla.
G	23	Cameron Cornelius	6-0, 192	Jr.	12.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg	Wichita, Kan.
G	25	Lane Barlow	6-0, 185	Jr.	6.0 ppg, 4.2 apg	Chicago, Ill.
G	34	Marquis Addison	6-4, 180	Sr.	16.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg	Olathe, Kan.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Southwest Baptist is currently 8-5 overall and 1-3 in the league. The team is coming off losses to Fort Hays State (91-72) and Emporia State (75-67), and has also fallen to Washburn (89-87). The lone conference win was a home triumph over Nebraska-Kearney (96-93). Rashaad Brown-Peterson is the team's leading scorer at 18.5 ppg, while the leading rebounder and second leading scorer is Desi Barmore (16.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg). Derrick Stewart (11.7 ppg) and Preston Guiot (11.6 ppg) also average double figures. Guiot has not played enough games to qualify in the MIAA rankings, but his 7.1 assists per game would rank second in the league.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern State owns a 9-2 mark with a 3-1 conference record. The Lions' only two losses this season have been to Fort Hays State (76-67) and Arkansas-Fort Smith (74-72), and they have league triumphs over Nebraska-Kearney (99-79), Washburn (110-73) and Emporia State (89-60). MSSU has used the same starting five in all 11 games this season, and they are led in scoring by Marquis Addison at 16.5 ppg. The second-leading scorer and top rebounder is Jordan Talbert (13.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg), and Cameron Cornelius (12.7 ppg) and Slim Magee (11.2 ppg) also average double-digit scoring.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT
The RiverHawks earned a 72-71 victory over Central Missouri on Dec. 21 inside the NSU Event Center. Junior forward Curtis Evans led NSU with 17 points, marking the first time all season senior guard Bryton Hobbs did not lead the squad in scoring. UCM point guard Daylen Robinson bothered Hobbs all game, as he finished with just 11 points on 1-of-14 shooting. He only got to double digits due to a 9-for-10 effort on the free-throw line. Hobbs was effective in other areas, however, as he added seven rebounds and seven assists in 40 minutes. Junior guard Keon Littleton poured in 16 points and added seven boards and three steals. Senior forward Marcus Sheppard finished with 13 points, and junior guard Michael Harmon came off the bench to contribute 11. Northeastern State shot 35 percent (20-for-57) from the field, 33 percent (8-for-24) from downtown and 77 percent (24-for-31) at the free-throw line. Central Missouri shot 45 percent (29-for-65) overall, 38 percent (8-for-21) from downtown and was just 5 of 6 at the charity stripe. There were only 14 turnovers in a well-played contest. Dillon Deck was 10-for-18 from the field and finished with a game-high 22 points for UCM. Robinson added 13 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. The game featured 26 lead changes and 15 ties, and neither team led by more than six points. Both teams exchanged four-point leads in the opening half, and it was Central Missouri who took a near-meaningless one-point edge (31-30) into the locker room.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET THE BEARCATS
NSU fell to Southwest Baptist 68-60 Jan. 12, 2013, night inside Meyer Sports Center. Bryton Hobbs and Landon DeMasters both led NSU with 16 points. DeMasters dropped a season high, while Ethan Anderson added 12. The RiverHawks shot 39 percent from the field (20-for-52), 36 percent from distance (9-for-25) and 65 percent from the free-throw line (11-for-17). Southwest Baptist was led by Gilbert Gyamfi's 22 points off the bench. Damion Hooks added 14 and Preston Guiot dropped 13. The Bearcats shot 50 percent from the field (23-for-46), 47 percent from downtown (9-for-19) and 59 percent from the line (13-for-22).
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET THE LIONS
NSU collected a 77-73 victory over Missouri Southern State Feb. 13, 2013 inside Jack Dobbins Field House. Bryton Hobbs led NSU with 23 points, six assists and five rebounds in 40 minutes of action. Ethan Anderson contributed 14 points, and Jermaine Bransford and John Schneider poured in 13 and 11, respectively. Schneider also added nine rebounds. Northeastern State shot a blistering 48 percent (30 of 63) from the field but only 18 percent (3 of 17) from downtown and 67 percent (14 of 21) at the line. Missouri Southern State countered with a 44-percent shooting clip (23 of 52), 42 percent (8 of 19) from distance and 73 percent (19 of 26) at the charity stripe. Jordan Talbert paced the visitors with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Marquis Addison poured in 18 points, reserve Stephen Atkinson contributed 15 and Cameron Cornelius added 11. The RiverHawks dominated the points in the paint (42-14), points off turnovers (18-6) and second-chance points (17-8). NSU turned the ball over just eight times, while the Lions coughed up the rock on 13 occasions.
 
HOBBS LEADS THE WAY
Senior guard Bryton Hobbs is currently leading the entire MIAA and is 12th in the nation in points per game (23.0). He is also 31st nationally in total points scored and ranks fourth in the league in assists (5.1) and fifth in minutes played (33.5). Hobbs has scored at least 20 points in all but two games this season. He also has two double-digit rebounding efforts and seven games with at least five helpers. He has led the RiverHawks in scoring and assists in all but one game this year. He has also led in rebounding four times, steals four times and blocks once.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE CURRENTLY RECEIVING VOTES
Northeastern State is currently receiving 14 votes in the latest NABC/Division II national rankings released Jan. 7. 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.
 
LITTLETON SNAGS WEEKLY ACCOLADE
Keon Littleton was honored as the MIAA Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced Dec. 23. Northeastern State handed both Missouri Western State and Central Missouri their first MIAA losses this season, while staying atop the league standings. Littleton averaged 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two contests. He only had one turnover the entire weekend and led NSU in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals. Against Central Missouri, Littleton filled the stat sheet with 16 points, seven rebounds, three steals, two assists, and two blocks in 39 minutes. Against MWSU, he finished with 17 points and eight rebounds in 34 minutes.
 
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.