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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team will travel to Edmond, Oklahoma, to take on Central Oklahoma in MIAA play. The RiverHawks (5-14, 3-9 MIAA) will meet the Bronchos (13-8, 6-6 MIAA) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Hamilton Field House.

NSU and UCO first met in 1924-25, with the Bronchos leading the series 85-48. 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). 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	4.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg	Elmo, Texas
F	32	Dakota Caudill	6-6, 220	Jr-RS	8.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg	Claremore, Okla.
G	00	Amir Gilliam	6-0, 185	Sr-1L	3.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg	Newark, N.J.
G	20	Trey Mohair	6-0, 190	Jr-TR	8.9 ppg, 2.5 apg	Denton, Texas
G	23	Montre' Williams	5-10, 160	Fr-HS	6.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg	Copperas Cove, Texas
Central Oklahoma's Probable Starters
F	23	Corbin Byford	6-7, 220	So.	3.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg	Velma, Okla.
F	32	Philip Brown	6-7, 240	Sr.	9.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg	San Antonio, Texas
G	00	Garen Wright	6-4, 210	Fr.	11.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg	Oklahoma City, Okla.
G	02	Darrius Bryson	6-2, 190	Sr.	2.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg	Oklahoma City, Okla.
G	13	Mahlon Jones	6-1, 185	Sr.	14.1 ppg, 2.9 apg	Oklahoma City, Okla.

 
SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS                 
University of Central Oklahoma is located in Edmond, Oklahoma, and the team competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Bronchos are 13-8 in the 2014-15 season and have put up a 6-6 record in MIAA play. They are 1-4 in their last five games, losing 78-61 to Pittsburg State in their most recent game. Mahlon Jones (14.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and Garen Wright (11.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) both average in double-figure scoring. Philip Brown (9.5 ppg) and Trai Jordan (6.4 ppg) both pull down five rebounds per game to lead the squad. Central Oklahoma averages 81.0 points per game and shoots .489 as a team.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT – PSU 76, NSU 66
Northeastern State had its brief two-game win streak snapped in a 76-66 loss to Pittsburg State Jan. 28 inside the NSU Event Center. NSU was led by its bench production, as senior guard Keon Littleton and junior guard 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. Junior guard 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.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET – UCO 61, NSU 60
Northeastern State lost 61-60 to Central Oklahoma in the semifinals of the 2014 MIAA Championship March 8, 2014 inside Municipal Auditorium. The No. 9-seeded RiverHawks saw their season come to a close. Larry Gipson coached his final game for Northeastern State, as he announced his retirement on Feb. 16. Bryton Hobbs led the RiverHawks with a game-high 28 points. He hit six 3-point baskets and also added six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Marcus Sheppard ended his career with a 10-point, five-rebound, four-assist performance. NSU shot 40.8 percent (20-for-49) from the field, 44.8 percent (13-for-29) from behind the 3-point line and 63.6 percent (7-for-11) at the free-throw line. UCO shot 46.2 percent (24-for-52) overall, 29.4 percent (5-for-17) from downtown and 80 percent (8-for-10) at the line. Josh Gibbs finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Aaron Anderson added 16 points from the Bronchos.
 
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.
 
-GoRiverHawksGo.com-