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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team is set to host rival Central Oklahoma in MIAA play. The RiverHawks (6-17, 4-12 MIAA) will meet the Bronchos (16-9, 9-7 MIAA) at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 21 in the NSU Event Center.

NSU and UCO first met in 1924-25, with the Bronchos leading the series 86-48. Central Oklahoma won all three meetings last season including a 96-95 double-overtime game (Feb. 6, 2014) and a one-point Broncho victory in the MIAA Championship Semifinals (March 8, 2014). UCO also won the first meeting this year (Feb. 5). Northeastern State was picked 12th in the preseason MIAA coaches' poll, while Central Oklahoma was slated sixth.
 

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	10	C.J. Winzer	6-5, 195	Fr-HS	5.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg	Elmo, Texas
G	00	Amir Gilliam	6-0, 185	Sr-1L	4.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg	Newark, N.J.
G	20	Trey Mohair	6-0, 190	Jr-TR	8.9 ppg, 2.7 apg	Denton, Texas
G	23	Montre' Williams	5-10, 160	Fr-HS	5.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg	Copperas Cove, Texas
G	25	Demone Harrison	6-3, 185	Jr-TR	12.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg	Houston, Texas
Central Oklahoma's Probable Starters
F	21	Cal Andrews	6-7, 200	Jr.	8.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg	Washington, Okla.
F	32	Philip Brown	6-7, 240	Sr.	10.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg	San Antonio, Texas
G	03	Seth Heckart	6-0, 175	Jr.	10.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg	Woodward, Okla.
G	13	Mahlon Jones	6-1, 185	Sr.	13.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg	Oklahoma City, Okla.
G	20	Jacob Strassle	6-3, 220	Jr.	4.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg	Mustang, Okla.

 
SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS                 
The University of Central Oklahoma is located in Edmond, Oklahoma, and the team competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Bronchos are 16-9 in the 2014-15 season and have put up a 9-7 record in MIAA play. UCO is 2-1 in its last three games, defeating Pittsburg State and Emporia State and losing to Washburn. The Bronchos are currently tied for sixth place in the MIAA standings. Mahlon Jones (13.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg) leads the team in scoring. Garen Wright (11.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Philip Brown (10.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Seth Heckart (10.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg) also average double-figure scoring. Central Oklahoma averages 79.9 points per game and shoots .491 as a team.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT – PSU 87, NSU 73
Northeastern State dropped an 87-73 decision to Pittsburg State Wednesday evening inside John Lance Arena. NSU used a balanced attack against PSU that saw six players score at least nine points. Senior guard Keon Littleton and junior guards Demone Harrison and Trey Mohair led the way with 12 points each. Senior guard Amir Gilliam posted a career-high 11 points. Northeastern State shot 41.5 percent (22-for-53) from the field, 27.3 percent (6-for-22) from behind the 3-point line and 79.3 percent (23-for-29) at the free-throw line. Pitt State shot 57.8 percent (26-for-45) overall, 43.8 percent (7-for-16) from distance and 75.7 percent (28-for-37) at the charity stripe. Josiah Gustafson led all scorers with 25 points. Trey Starks added 18 points off the bench, while Dakota Jones contributed 11 and Trevor Gregory and Devon Branch both scored 10. Connor Kjer only had four points, but he hauled in 11 rebounds. The RiverHawks led in rebounds (33-24), steals (6-5) and points off turnovers (15-13).
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET – UCO 77, NSU 49
Northeastern State lost a 77-49 decision to Central Oklahoma Feb. 5 inside Hamilton Field House. Dakota Caudill paced the visitors with 14 points. NSU shot 34 percent (18-for-53) from the field, 23.5 percent (4-for-17) from behind the 3-point line and 50 percent (9-for-18) at the free-throw line. UCO shot 48.1 percent (26-for-54) overall, 42.4 percent (14-for-33) from distance and 84.6 percent (11-for-13) at the line. Reggie Sloan led the Bronchos with 16 points off the bench. Seth Heckart finished with 15 points, while Philip Brown added 12. The RiverHawks held a 26-22 advantage in points in the paint and also led 10-4 on fast-break points. UCO outrebounded NSU 36-33 and also led in assists (21-10), points off turnovers (21-14) and bench points (39-13). NSU was held to just 13 points in the first half, which was the fewest points scored in a half since the team also had 13 against Arkansas Tech on Nov. 15, 2008.
 
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 4-12 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.
 
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.
 
-GoRiverHawksGo.com-