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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team is set to travel to Bolivar, Missouri and play Southwest Baptist. The RiverHawks (3-9, 1-4 MIAA) will meet the Bearcats (7-7, 2-3 MIAA) at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 in the Meyer Sports Center.

The series between NSU and SBU is tied 1-1 since the RiverHawks joined the MIAA. The Bearcats won 68-60 in Bolivar in the 2012-13 season, but Northeastern State earned the 97-91 victory inside the NSU Event Center last year. Northeastern State was picked to finish 12th in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll, while Southwest Baptist was chosen to finish 13th.
 

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	32	Dakota Caudill	6-6, 220	Jr-RS	7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg	Claremore, Okla.
G	0	Amir Gilliam	6-0, 185	Sr-1L	4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg	Neward, N.J.
G	5	Keon Littleton	6-1, 185	Sr-1L	10.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg	DeSoto, Texas
G	20	Trey Mohair	6-0, 190	Jr-TR	8.0 ppg, 2.4 apg	Denton, Texas
G	25	Demone Harrison	6-3, 185	Jr-TR	13.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg	Houston, Texas
Southwest Baptist's Probable Starters
F	1	David Gabrovsek	6-7, 225	So.	4.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg	Domzale, Slovenia
F	5	Finn Delany	6-7, 225	Fr.	6.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg	Nelson, New Zealand
G	10	Derrick Stewart	5-9, 165	Sr.	7.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg	Romulus, Mich.
G	15	Daymond Cowlah	6-1, 175	Jr.	10.7 ppg, 2.9 apg	Pacoima, Calif.
G	20	Menas Stephens	6-5, 215	Sr.	11.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg	Los Angeles, Calif.

 
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Southwest Baptist University is located in Bolivar, Missouri, and the team competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Bearcats are 7-7 in the 2014-15 season and 2-3 in MIAA play. SBU defeated Fort Hays State 72-70 in their most recent game. Their other league victory came against Emporia State (71-51). Menas Stephens leads the way for Southwest Baptist, averaging 11.4 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game. Daymond Cowlah (10.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg) also averages in double-figure scoring. Southwest Baptist averages 66.8 points per game and shoots .422 as a team.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT – NWMSU 83, NSU 59
The Northeastern State men's basketball team lost an 83-59 decision to Northwest Missouri State inside the NSU Event Center. The RiverHawks dropped to 3-9 overall and 1-4 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, while the Bearcats improved to 11-2 on the season and 4-1 in the league. Senior guard Keon Littleton led NSU with 13 points, while freshman forward C.J. Winzer added 12 points off the bench. Northeastern State shot 41.8 percent (23-for-55) from the field, 29.4 percent (5-for-17) from 3-point territory and 72.7 percent (8-for-11) at the free-throw line. NWMSU shot 45.8 percent (27-for-59) overall, 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from distance and 70.8 percent (17-for-24) at the charity stripe. The Bearcats were led by Justin Pitts' 20 points (18 in the first half). Conner Crooker added 16, Zach Schneider contributed 15 and Grant Cozad scored 14. Brett Dougherty pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds off the bench. Northwest Missouri State led 53-24 at halftime, and NSU outscored the Bearcats 35-30 over the final 20 minutes of action. NWMSU outrebounded NSU 45-24 and also led in second-chance points (15-2). NSU led in fewer turnovers (8-12), points in the paint (30-24) and bench points (18-12).
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - NSU 97, SBU 91
The Northeastern State men's basketball team defeated Southwest Baptist 97-91 Jan 9, 2014 in the NSU Event Center in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup. The RiverHawks (10-2, 5-0 MIAA) were led by Bryton Hobbs, who dropped a career-high 40 points on 10-of-18 shooting. He was also 16-for-21 at the free-throw line, made four three-point shots, dished out a career-high nine assists and pulled down five rebounds. Guard Dalen Qualls registered 23 points, knocking down 7 of 10 from downtown. The point total for the transfer was his highest in the green and white, and he hit more three's than any member of the team since Antoine Branch in the 2010-11 season. Guard Amir Gilliam tallied a career-high 11 assists, which was the first time since Jan. 8, 2007 (LaMont George) that an NSU player had double-digit assists. Forward Marcus Sheppard added 18 points to the winning effort. NSU shot 55 percent (32-for-58) from the field, 52 percent (13-for-25) from downtown and 67 percent (20-for-30) at the free-throw line. The RiverHawks also shot a scorching 77 percent (10-for-13) from beyond the arc in the second half. The Bearcats (8-6, 1-4 MIAA) hit 46 percent (34-for-74) from the field, 23 percent (8-for-35) from behind the three-point line and 68 percent (15-for-22) at the line.
 
BREAKING AN ALL-TIME MARK
After losing five straight, the RiverHawks busted their losing streak on the strength of an 86-65 blowout win over Lindenwood at Dec. 6 inside the NSU Event Center. Northeastern State made 14 of 16 3-point attempts, and the 87.5 shooting percentage from downtown broke a school record that had stood since Feb. 21, 1998. Michael Harmon scored 30 points for the second time in three games. He made 6-for-7 from behind the arc. Demone Harrison was 4-for-4 from distance, Landon DeMasters was 2-for-2, Trey Mohair was 1-for-2 and Keon Littleton was 1-for-1. NSU took a 54-40 lead into halftime and cruised to the 21-point victory, which was the highest margin of victory against a league opponent since defeating Cameron University 84-62 in Lone Star Conference action on Feb. 28, 2004.
 
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN KC
The 2015 MIAA Men's Basketball Championship is set to take place inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. 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 2, 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 5-8. Both NSU basketball programs have advanced to the MIAA Championship Quarterfinals in Kansas City in each of their first two years in the league.
 
NSU SELECTED FOR NATIONAL CBS BROADCAST
Northeastern State's regular-season matchup at Central Missouri was chosen as the NCAA Division II National TV Game of the Week. The contest was nationally televised on CBS Sports Network on Dec. 20 in Warrensburg, Missouri. The contest was the first nationally-televised game for Northeastern State since the Redmen won the 2003 NCAA Division II National Championship. The RiverHawks traveled to the UCM Multipurpose Building to face off with the defending national champions. NSU handed the Mules two of their five losses last season, once on Dec. 21 in Tahlequah (72-71) and again on March 7 in the MIAA Championship quarterfinals (84-82). There are five NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National TV Games of the Week this season, with the contest between the RiverHawks and Mules serving as the first in 2014-15. 
 
DROPPING 36
Michael Harmon poured in a career-high 36 points in a 99-87 loss to Ouachita Baptist on Nov. 29 inside Tucker Coliseum. The senior guard has taken over the main scoring duties this season, which was apparent against the Tigers when he connected on 11-of-20 shots from the field and 6-of-12 attempts from 3-point territory. He also hit 8 of 9 from the free-throw line. The 36-point total is the second-highest scored by a player from the MIAA this season. Harmon has three other games with at least 20 points, which includes a 30-point effort in a victory over Lindenwood on Dec. 6.
 
TICKETS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY IN 2014-15
All fans wishing to attend an NSU home 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 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.
 
FORMER RIVERHAWK SIGNS PRO CONTRACT
Former Northeastern State All-American guard Bryton Hobbs announced that he has signed a one-year contract to play professionally for the Perry Lakes Hawks. The club is located in Perth, Australia, and competes in the 14-team State Basketball League (SBL). Hobbs signed his contract on December 14, and he will begin competing for the Hawks in March. The SBL season runs from March through August. Perry Lakes finished 11-15 this past season, but the Hawks own the most championships in league history with five. Hobbs led the 2013-14 RiverHawks to a 16-13 record and a spot in the MIAA Championship semifinals. He led the MIAA in scoring and finished eighth in the NCAA at 23.1 ppg. He also finished third in the conference in assists (5.7 apg). Hobbs played in 57 games in two seasons at NSU and also made 55 starts. He scored in double figures 55 times, while also reaching 20 points 31 times, 30 points six times and 40 points once. He finished his career with 1,182 points and had three double-doubles. His postseason accolades included being named an All-American in 2012-13, while also earning four all-region accolades and two All-MIAA honors. When Hobbs takes the floor in March, he will become the second member from NSU's last NCAA tournament team (2012-13) to compete at the professional level. Former NSU forward Jermaine Bransford is currently under contract with Tunisian club Stade Nabeulien. The team is located in Nabeul, Tunisia, and competes in the Tunisian Division I Basketball League. He played last year with ASB Potosi in Bolivia. Hobbs and Bransford led the 2012-13 squad to 19 victories and a berth in the first round of the NCAA Championship.
 
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