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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team remains on the road for a bout with Missouri Southern State. The RiverHawks (3-10, 1-5 MIAA) and Lions (9-5, 3-2 MIAA) are set to meet at 3 p.m. Jan. 19 inside Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin, Missouri.

NSU and MSSU have met each of the past 17 years dating back to the 1997-98 campaign, and the Lions hold a narrow 10-9 advantage in the 19-game series. Northeastern State as picked to finish 12th in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll, while Missouri Southern State was chosen to finish fifth.
 

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	32	Dakota Caudill	6-6, 220	Jr-RS	6.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg	Claremore, Okla.
G	0	Amir Gilliam	6-0, 185	Sr-1L	4.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg	Newark, N.J.
G	5	Keon Littleton	6-1, 185	Sr-1L	10.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg	DeSoto, Texas
G	20	Trey Mohair	6-0, 190	Jr-TR	8.7 ppg, 2.5 apg	Denton, Texas
G	25	Demone Harrison	6-3, 185	Jr-TR	12.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg	Houston, Texas
Missouri Southern State's Probable Starters
C	12	Greg Renfroe	6-8, 250	Jr.	8.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg	Delaware, Okla.
G	1	Austin Wright	6-2, 180	Jr.	9.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg	Bixby, Okla.
G	23	Cameron Cornelius	6-0, 192	Sr.	10.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg	Wichita, Kan.
G	25	Lane Barlow	6-0, 185	Sr.	12.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg	Chicago, Ill.
G	55	Taevaunn Prince	6-3, 215	Jr.	16.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg	Toronto, Canada

 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern State University is located in Joplin, Missouri, and the team competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Lions own a 9-5 record this season with a 3-2 mark in the league. They have won four of their last five outings, which includes triumphs over Washburn (87-61), Emporia State (84-69) and Central Oklahoma (83-78). The two conference losses have been to Nebraska-Kearney (93-73) and Fort Hays State (80-70). Taevaunn Prince leads MSSU in scoring and rebounding (16.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg). Lane Barlow is the second-leading scorer at 12.9 ppg, while Cameron Cornelius also averages double figures (10.9 ppg).
 
THE LAST TIME OUT - SBU 79, NSU 68
Northeastern State lost 79-68 to Southwest Baptist Thursday evening inside Meyer Sports Center. The RiverHawks dropped to 3-10 on the season and 1-5 in MIAA play. Southwest Baptist improved to 8-7 on the year and 3-3 in the MIAA. NSU was led by junior guard Trey Mohair, who scored a career- and game-high 18 points, which included a career-high nine made free throws. Senior forward Landon DeMasters finished with 11 points, going 4-for-5 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc in 16 minutes. NSU shot 42.3 percent (22-for-52) from the field, 28.6 percent (6-for-21) from behind the arc and 75 percent (18-for-24) at the line. SBU shot 44.0 percent (22-for-50) from the field, 36.4 percent (8-for-22) from 3-point range and 65.9 percent (27-for-41) from the charity stripe. Patrick Burke led the Bearcats with 16 points. Quinton Smith added 15 points. Southwest Baptist outrebounded the RiverHawks 41-26. NSU held the edge in second-chance points 11-6.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - MSSU 80, NSU 65
NSU became the final team to suffer a conference loss as Missouri Southern State handed the RiverHawks an 80-65 defeat on Jan. 11, 2014 inside the NSU Event Center. Bryton Hobbs led with 20 points. Jeremy McDonald reached a season-high 14 points, while Dalen Qualls scored 12 and Curtis Evans added 11. The RiverHawks were held to 36.5 percent shooting (19-for-52), which tied their lowest output of the season. The team shot 35 percent (7-for-20) from behind the three-point line and 71 percent (20-for-28) at the free-throw line. MSSU hit 50 percent (28-for-56) from the field, 46 percent (6-for-13) from distance and 75 percent (18-for-24) at the charity stripe. The Lions led in rebounding (43-25), points in the paint (34-14), points off turnovers (13-9), second-chance points (17-6), bench points (32-16), and assists (17-10). MSSU was led by Slim Magee, who came off the bench to post 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Talbert also tallied 14 points, while Marquis Addison and Cameron Cornelius added 10 apiece.
 
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 12TH IN MIAA PRESEASON POLLS
The Northeastern State men's basketball team was picked to finish 12th in the MIAA by the league coaches. The RiverHawks earned 39 points and are projected to finish just inside the cut line for the MIAA Championship tournament in May. Central Missouri topped the coaches' poll with 151 points total and 10 first-place votes a year removed from winning the national championship. Northeastern State finished 16-13 last season and 9-10 in the MIAA. NSU also lost head coach Larry Gipson, who retired at the end of the season. Senior forward Landon DeMasters is the leading returning scorer at 8.1 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game last season.
 
GO RIVERHAWKS GEAR
Northeastern State University Athletics has partnered with Advanced-Online for the past two years with a 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.