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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team will travel to Pittsburg, Kansas, to take on Pittsburg State in MIAA play. The RiverHawks (6-16, 4-11 MIAA) will meet the Gorillas (15-8, 11-4 MIAA) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in John Lance Arena.

PSU is 45-22 all-time against NSU, with the two squads splitting the series in each of the last three years. The Gorillas won the first meeting between the teams this year in Tahlequah Jan. 28 (76-66). Northeastern State was picked 12th in the preseason MIAA coaches' poll, while Pittsburg State was slated 10th.
 

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	32	Dakota Caudill	6-6, 220	Jr-RS	9.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg	Claremore, Okla.
G	00	Amir Gilliam	6-0, 185	Sr-1L	4.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg	Newark, N.J.
G	20	Trey Mohair	6-0, 190	Jr-TR	8.8 ppg, 2.6 apg	Denton, Texas
G	23	Montre' Williams	5-10, 160	Fr-HS	5.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg	Copperas Cove, Texas
G	25	Demone Harrison	6-3, 185	Jr-TR	12.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg	Houston, Texas
Pittsburg State's Probable Starters
F	24	Trevor Gregory	6-7, 235	So-1L	6.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg	Lee's Summit, Mo.
F	33	Connor Kjer	6-6, 220	Sr-1L	5.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg	La Habra, Calif.
G	03	Javis Flynn	5-10, 170	Jr-TR	6.6 ppg, 5.3 apg	Watonga, Okla.
G	04	Josiah Gustafson	6-6, 190	So-1L	16.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg	Omaha, Neb.
G	05	Devon Branch	6-6, 180	Sr-1L	14.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg	Aberdeen, Md.

 
SCOUTING THE GORILLAS                    
Pittsburg State is located in Pittsburg, Kansas, and the team competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Gorillas are 15-8 in the 2014-15 season and have put up a 11-4 record in MIAA play. PSU is 4-1 in their last five games, most recently defeating Fort Hays State 77-63. The Gorillas are currently tied for second place in the MIAA standings. Josiah Gustafson (16.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg) leads the team in scoring. Devon Branch (14.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg) also averages double-figure scoring. Pittsburg State averages 71.9 points per game and shoots .485 as a team.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT – WU 92, NSU 68
Northeastern State team lost 92-68 to Washburn Feb. 14 inside Lee Arena. The RiverHawks dropped to 6-16 on the year and 4-11 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, while the Ichabods improved to 13-14 overall and 8-8 in the league. Junior guard Demone Harrison led NSU with 20 points, while freshman forward C.J. Winzer chipped in a career-high 18 points off the bench. Northeastern State shot 42.3 percent (22-for-52) overall, 33.3 percent (6-for-18) from behind the 3-point arc and 78.3 percent (18-for-23) at the free-throw line. WU shot 52.7 percent (29-for-55) from the field. Kyle Wiggins led all scorers with 26 points, while Kevin House (16 points) and Christian Ulsaker (14 points) both reached double figures off the bench.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET – PSU 76, NSU 66
Northeastern State lost 76-66 to Pittsburg State Jan. 28 inside the NSU Event Center. NSU was led by its bench production, as Keon Littleton and Demone Harrison combined to outscore PSU's bench 40-9. Harrison led all scorers with 22 points (11-for-12 at the free-throw line), and Littleton posted 18 points and seven rebounds. Trey Mohair chipped in 11 points before fouling out. The home team shot 39.6 percent (19-for-48) from the field, 25 percent (3-for-12) from deep and 78.1 percent (25-for-32) at the free-throw line. Pittsburg State shot 47.7 percent (21-for-44) overall, 60 percent (9-for-15) from behind the 3-point line and 67.6 percent (25-for-37) at the charity stripe. Javis Flynn paced four Gorillas in double figures with 17 points. Josiah Gustafson added 16, Connor Kjer chipped in 14 and Devon Branch scored 13. Northeastern State dominated the contest in points in the paint (30-14) and fast-break points (17-2). The two sides combined to commit 32 fouls, and they combined to shoot 69 free throws.
 
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.
 
IF THE SEASON WERE TO END TODAY
NSU is currently 4-11 in league play and sits in 12th in the MIAA standings. If the season were to end today, the RiverHawks would earn the No. 12 seed and would travel to No. 5 seed Nebraska-Kearney on March 2 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. Central Missouri, Northwest Missouri, Pittsburg State and Lindenwood are currently slated to earn the four byes to KC.
 
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.
 
-GoRiverHawksGo.com-