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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team is set to conclude the regular season with a pair of road games in Nebraska and Kansas. The RiverHawks (13-11, 8-9 MIAA) will first lock up with Nebraska-Kearney (12-12, 8-9 MIAA) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 inside the Health & Sports Center in Kearney, Neb. That game will likely determine which team will host the other in the first round of the MIAA Championship on March 4. NSU will then travel to Hays, Kan., for an 8 p.m. tilt with Fort Hays State (21-5, 12-5 MIAA) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

NSU and UNK have met three times since the RiverHawks joined the NCAA in 1996-97. The first meeting came in the NCAA Elite Eight on March 26, 2003. Northeastern State took that contest 94-75 en route to winning the 2003 NCAA Division II National Championship. The Lopers won last year's meeting 60-57 at Jack Dobbins Field House (Jan. 5, 2013), and NSU took this year's contest 90-85 (Jan. 16) inside the NSU Event Center. NSU and FHSU have met twice since 1996-97, and both were in Tahlequah. The first was a 76-61 RiverHawks victory on Jan. 3, 2013, and the second was a 79-65 Tiger victory earlier this season. Fort Hays State was selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to win the conference, NSU was selected fourth and UNK was picked 13th.

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	10	Landon DeMasters	6-4, 200	Jr-1L	6.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg	Van Alstyne, Texas
F	15	Marcus Sheppard	6-4, 205	Sr-1L	9.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg	Vivian, La.
F	22	Curtis Evans	6-7, 215	Jr-TR	9.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg	Springdale, Ark.
G	00	Michael Harmon	5-11, 180	Jr-TR	6.4 ppg, 0.7 apg	Houston, Texas
G	03	Bryton Hobbs	6-0, 170	Sr-1L	22.8 ppg, 5.6 apg	St. Louis, Mo.
Nebraska-Kearney's Probable Starters
F	32	Ethan Brozek	6-7, 215	So.	16.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg	Norfolk, Neb.
F	44	Connor Beranek	6-6, 190	So.	17.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg	Ravenna, Neb.
F	54	Mike Dentlinger	6-6, 205	Sr.	15.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg	Omaha, Neb.
G	05	Davion Pearson	5-11, 175	Jr.	10.8 ppg, 4.3 apg	Las Vegas, Nev.
G	24	Kevin Dineen	6-1, 180	Fr.	6.3 ppg, 2.2 apg	Omaha, Neb.
Fort Hays State's Probable Starters
F	21	Jake Stoppel	6-5, 210	So.	6.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg	Wilson, Kan.
F	31	Dwayne Brunson	6-7, 220	Sr.	16.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg	Queens, N.Y.
G	03	Craig Nicholson	5-8, 160	So.	17.6 ppg, 7.5 apg	Wichita, Kan.
G	04	Carson Konrade	6-3, 170	Sr.	12.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg	Spearville, Kan.
G	05	Tomislav Gabric	6-6, 185	Jr.	8.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg	Dubrovnik, Croatia

SCOUTING THE LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney owns a 12-12 record overall with an 8-9 MIAA mark. The Lopers are 9-2 at home and have lost their last two games after winning seven straight. They have fallen on the road to Emporia State (92-83) and Fort Hays State (78-72) in their last two outings. Connor Beranek paces the Lopers at 17.3 ppg and 6.4 rpg, and Ethan Brozek leads the squad in rebounding (16.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg). Mike Dentlinger (15.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Davion Pearson (10.8 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.6 rpg) and Tyler Shields (10.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg) also score in double figures.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State currently sits at 21-5 overall and 12-5 in the MIAA. The Tigers are 3-2 in their last five games since rattling off a 10-game win streak. In their last outing, they defeated Nebraska-Kearney 78-72. Craig Nicholson leads the squad in scoring and assists (17.6 ppg, 7.5 apg), while Dwayne Brunson is second in scoring and the leader in rebounds (16.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg). Carson Konrade (12.9 ppg) also scores in double figures.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT - UCO 63, NSU 56
Northeastern State lost 63-56 to Central Oklahoma on Feb. 22 inside Hamilton Field House. Bryton Hobbs finished with a team-high 15 points despite not attempting a shot in the first half for the second time in three games. Marcus Sheppard added 14 points for the visitors. Northeastern State shot 35.2 percent (19-for-54) from the field, 35.7 percent (10-for-28) from downtown and 72.7 percent (8-for-11) at the free-throw line. UCO shot 47.8 percent (22-for-46) from the field, 31.3 percent (5-for-16) from downtown and 66.7 percent (14-for-21) at the line. The Bronchos had more turnovers than NSU (16-13) but dominated the boards (38-28) and had 20 more points in the paint (32-12). Josh Gibbs led Central Oklahoma with 16 points, and Aaron Anderson added 15.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - NSU 90, UNK 85
NSU topped Nebraska-Kearney 90-85 on Jan. 16 inside the NSU Event Center. NSU was led by Bryton Hobbs, who finished with 27 points and a career-high 10 assists for the fourth double-double of his career. Dalen Qualls poured in 18 points. Marcus Sheppard and Curtis Evans both added 12 points, while Keon Littleton contributed 11 to the winning cause. Northeastern State shot 54.9 percent (28-for-51) from the field, 40 percent (8-for-20) from downtown and 76.5 percent (26-for-34) at the free-throw line. UNK shot 50 percent (30-for-60) overall, 39.3 percent (11-for-28) from distance and 60.9 percent (14-for-23) at the line. Nebraska-Kearney was led by Davion Pearson's 20 points. Ethan Brozek added 18 and Tyler Shields contributed 10. Connor Beranek entered the contest third in the MIAA in scoring at 19.4 points per game, but he was held to just 13. Mike Dentlinger was second on the squad at 13.8 ppg, but he only scored six before fouling out.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - FHSU 79, NSU 65
The RiverHawks dropped a 79-65 decision to Fort Hays State on Jan. 18 inside the NSU Event Center. Bryton Hobbs led all scorers with 28 points. He was only 8-for-20 from the field, but he hit three 3-pointers and made 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. He also added eight assists and four rebounds in 40 minutes. The only other member of the team to reach double figures was Landon DeMasters, who finished with 10 points. Craig Nicholson led FHSU with 27 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Carson Konrade poured in 16 points and Dwayne Brunson posted 13 points and 12 rebounds. Northeastern State shot 35.2 percent (19-for-54) from the field, 26.1 percent (6-for-23) from downtown and 80.8 percent (21-for-26) at the free-throw line. The Tigers shot 46.6 percent (27-for-58) from the field, 22.2 percent (2-for-9) from the field and 88.5 percent (23-for-26) at the line.
 
GIPSON ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Larry Gipson announced Feb. 16 that he will retire as head coach of the Northeastern State men's basketball program, effective at the conclusion of the 2013-14 season. Gipson will step down after leading NSU for the past 17 seasons. He currently has a career record of 276-198 at Northeastern State. His all-time collegiate coaching record stands at 561-358, and he is 332-256 at the NCAA level. His 276 career victories place him second at Northeastern State behind only Jack Dobbins (314), and his .582 winning percentage is the best in school history. He reached the 100- and 200-win milestones faster than any other coach in program history. Gipson has led NSU to nine winning seasons, five 20-win campaigns and five appearances in the NCAA Championship tournament (1999-03, 2013). His marquee season came in 2002-03, when he guided his team to a 32-3 record and the lone NCAA Division II National Championship in school history. The 2003 title is also the only national championship won in Redmen/RiverHawks basketball history. Gipson was inducted into the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004 for his outstanding coaching feat. A retirement reception for Gipson will be held in April. The date and time will be announced at a later date. A national search for Gipson's replacement will begin at the conclusion of the NCAA Division II regular season. Follow @NSUCoachSearch on twitter for updates.
 
THE HISTORIC ROAD LOSING STREAK
The NSU basketball programs have lost five-straight road doubleheaders, with losses coming at Northwest Missouri State (Jan. 13), Washburn (Jan. 25), Pittsburg State (Jan. 29), Emporia State (Feb. 12), and most-recently Central Oklahoma (Feb. 22). This is the first time during the Gipson Brothers' era (since 1999) that the two teams have lost five-straight doubleheaders. The five-game road losing streak for the men's team is the longest since the final five road tilts of the 2011-12 season. The last time NSU won a road game was an 83-74 victory on Dec. 7 at Lindenwood.
 
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 8-9 in the MIAA standings and is tied for eighth place. If the season were to end today, the RiverHawks would earn the No. 8 seed and would play host to No. 9 seed Nebraska-Kearney 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 defeated UNK 90-85 on Jan. 16 in Tahlequah.