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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team will once again look to snap its long losing streak when Washburn comes to town at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 15 inside the NSU Event Center (3,100).

The RiverHawks (11-10, 6-8 MIAA) are 8-4 at home this season and have lost eight of their last nine games, while the Ichabods (15-7, 8-7 MIAA) are 2-5 on the road. NSU is 2-1 all-time against WU. Northeastern State topped Washburn 64-59 in the NCAA Second Round en route to winning the 2003 National Championship (March 15, 2003), and NSU upset then-No. 10 WU 85-78 in Tahlequah last season (Jan. 19, 2013).

WU earned its first win of the series earlier this season. Washburn was selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to finish seventh, NSU was selected to place fourth.

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	10	Landon DeMasters	6-4, 200	Jr-1L	6.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg	Van Alstyne, Texas
F	15	Marcus Sheppard	6-4, 205	Sr-1L	9.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg	Vivian, La.
F	22	Curtis Evans	6-7, 215	Jr-TR	9.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg	Springdale, Ark.
G	03	Bryton Hobbs	6-0, 170	Sr-1L	23.7 ppg, 5.8 apg	St. Louis, Mo.
G	20	Dalen Qualls	6-1, 180	Jr-TR	9.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg	Stratford, Okla.
Washburn's Probable Starters
F	22	Alex North	6-6, 215	Jr.	15.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg	Topeka, Kan.
F	31	Leon Flowers	6-5, 190	Sr.	10.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg	Wichita, Kan.
G	03	Jeff Reid	6-6, 205	Jr.	9.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg	Topeka, Kan.
G	05	Korey Fisher	6-2, 195	Jr.	6.9 rpg, 2.4 apg	East Orange, N.J.
G	11	Kyle Wiggins	6-2, 170	Jr.	14.9 ppg, 4.1 apg	Leavenworth, Kan.

SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn (from Topeka, Kan.) owns a 15-7 mark with an 8-7 league record. Since defeating Northeastern State 75-63 in Topeka on Jan. 25, the Ichabods have dropped four of their last five, including a 72-70 loss at Central Oklahoma on Feb. 13. Another loss included an 87-85 overtime setback at Fort Hays State. The lone victory was a 79-74 home win against Emporia State. Alex North (15.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg) is the MIAA's second-leading rebounder and Washburn's leading scorer. Kyle Wiggins (14.9 ppg, 4.1 apg) and Leon Flowers (10.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) also average double-digit scoring numbers.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT - ESU 73, NSU 65
NSU lost 73-65 to Emporia State Feb. 12 inside White Auditorium. The RiverHawks dropped their sixth-straight game and have now lost eight of their last nine games. Bryton Hobbs led NSU with 16 points and crossed the 1,000-point threshold for his career despite a 4-for-19 outing. The MIAA's leading scorer made just 1 of 7 from downtown, and he now has 1,010 points in his two-year career. Hobbs also had seven assists, seven rebounds and five turnovers in 39 minutes. Marcus Sheppard added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Michael Harmon chipped in 10 points. Jeremy McDonald posted nine points and eight boards. Northeastern State shot 35 percent (21-for-60) from the field, 31.8 percent (7-for-22) from beyond the arc and 76.2 percent (16-for-21) at the free-throw line. The Hornets shot 45.9 percent (28-for-61) from the field, 18.8 percent (3-for-16) from downtown and 70 percent (14-for-20) from the line. ESU also dominated NSU in rebounds (45-32), points in the paint (42-24) and second-chance points (17-6). Kaleb Wright paced Emporia State with 25 points. Paul Bunch added 13 points and 17 rebounds, and Gavin Brown contributed 13 points for the home side.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - WU 75, NSU 63
Northeastern State fell 75-63 at Washburn University on Jan. 25 inside Lee Arena. 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.
 
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP FAN LODGING AVAILABLE
The 2014 MIAA Basketball Championships at Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium will be held March 6-9. Fan lodging at the Downtown Marriott is now being accepted for the upcoming event. The fan rate is $137 per night and fans have until Wednesday, February 12 to receive that rate. Lodging is available here: https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=10982278. Through this website you can book, modify or cancel your hotel reservations at any time and receive updated information about the event.
 
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.
 
IF THE SEASON WERE TO END TODAY
NSU is currently 6-8 in the MIAA standings and is in solo ninth place. If the season were to end today, the RiverHawks would earn the No. 9 seed and would travel to Emporia, Kan., for a meeting with No. 8 seed Emporia State on March 4 in the first round of the MIAA Championship. The winner of that contest would join seven other schools in Kansas City for the remainder of the tournament. Northwest Missouri State, Central Missouri, Fort Hays State, and Missouri Southern State are all slated to earn the four byes to KC. Northeastern State has lost both games to Emporia State this season, falling 72-67 on Jan. 22 in Tahlequah and 73-65 on Feb. 12 in Emporia.
 
NSU's GIPSON IN 17TH SEASON
NSU's Larry Gipson (Heidelberg College, '74) is in his 17th season as the RiverHawks head coach. The long-time leader of the men's basketball program enters the year with a 264-188 record over his illustrious career at NSU. He is second all-time in school history behind only Jack Dobbins (314 wins) in career wins, and his .584 winning percentage is the best in school history. He reached the 100- and 200-win milestones faster than any other coach in school history. Gipson has posted nine winning seasons in his time at NSU, and those include five 20-win campaigns and a national championship in 2002-03 (32-3 record). He has also led Northeastern State to five appearances in the NCAA tournament (1999-03, 2013). The 2003 NCAA title was the first for Northeastern State in any sport and the first national championship won in RiverHawks basketball history. Gipson was inducted into the NSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 for his outstanding coaching feat. Gipson and Nolan Richardson are the only two head coaches ever to lead teams to a national championship at both the NCAA and NJCAA level. Gipson, Richardson and Ray Harper (NCAA D-II, NAIA) are the only three coaches in college basketball history to win national titles at two different levels.
 
ID'S REQUIRED FOR ENTRY IN 2013-14
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.