TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team is gearing up for the stretch run to close out the 2015-16 season, as eight of the final 11 games will be played at home. The first two of those games will be contested this weekend, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 tilt against Central Missouri (11-5, 5-5 MIAA). NSU will then play host to Southwest Baptist (8-8, 3-7 MIAA) at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 23.
 

Northeastern State's Possible Starters
F	24	Dakota Caudill	6-6, 220	Sr-3L	13.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg	Claremore, Okla.
F	33	Erick Broadnax	6-9, 200	Jr-TR	2.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg	Tullahassee, Okla.
G	23	Braxton Williams	6-4, 195	Jr-TR	5.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg	West Plains, Mo.
G	25	Trey Mohair	6-0, 190	Sr-1L	13.7 ppg, 4.3 apg	Denton, Texas
G	30	Peyton Pratt	6-0, 175	Fr-HS	5.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg	Sperry, Okla.
Central Missouri's Probable Starters
F	33	Kyle Wolf	6-6, 205	Jr.	6.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg	Lenexa, Kan.
F	50	Jakob Lowrance	6-8, 270	Fr.	6.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg	Bethalto, Ill.
G	00	D'Marnier Cunningham	5-9, 165	Sr.	17.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg	Chicago, Ill.
G	05	Tereke Eckwood	5-11, 175	Fr.	5.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg	Springdale, Ark.
G	31	Spencer Reaves	6-3, 195	So.	11.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg	Newark, Ark.

 
NSU and UCM are deadlocked at 2-2 in the all-time series between the two programs. All four meetings have been since the RiverHawks joined the MIAA. UCM won the first matchup in Warrensburg on Jan. 9, 2013 (77-69), while the RiverHawks won both meetings during the 2013-14 season. NSU defeated Central Missouri on Dec. 21, 2013 in Tahlequah (72-71), and also won 84-82 in the quarterfinals of the 2014 MIAA Championship. The Mules defeated NSU 81-62 during last year's regular-season matchup.
 
SBU owns a 2-1 series lead over NSU since the RiverHawks joined the MIAA. The Bearcats won 68-60 in Bolivar in the 2012-13 season, but Northeastern State earned a 97-91 victory inside the NSU Event Center in the 2013-14 campaign. The Bearcats then defeated NSU 79-68 in last year's battle.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT - UNK 70, NSU 69
The RiverHawks lost to Nebraska-Kearney 70-69 Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center. The RiverHawks (4-11, 3-8 MIAA) fell to 0-9 on the road this season, while the Lopers improved to 9-7 overall and 6-5 in the conference. Senior forward Dakota Caudill led NSU with 15 points and seven rebounds. Senior guards Trey Mohair and Killven Samuel both chipped in 10 points, while three others had at least eight. NSU shot 39.1 percent (27-for-69) from the field, 34.8 percent (8-for-23) from behind the arc and 70 percent (7-for-10) at the free-throw line. UNK shot 41.1 percent (23-for-56) overall, 18.8 percent (3-for-16) from distance and 95.5 percent (21-for-22) at the charity stripe. Connor Beranek (30 points, 10 rebounds) and Ethan Brozek (12 points, 10 rebounds) both had double-doubles to lead the home side to victory. Nebraska-Kearney led in rebounds (42-34), assists (16-13) and blocks (6-4). Northeastern State led in steals (6-5), points in the paint (30-26), points off turnovers (13-10), second-chance points (13-11), fast-break points (5-4), bench points (36-9), and fewer turnovers (10-13).
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - UCM 81, NSU 62
Northeastern State lost 81-62 to No. 3 Central Missouri on CBS Sports Network inside UCM's Multipurpose Building on Dec. 20, 2014. NSU shot 34.5 percent (20-for-58) from the field, 25 percent (6-for-24) from behind the 3-point line and 84.2 percent (16-for-19) at the free-throw line. UCM posted percentages of 59.2 percent (29-for-49) overall, 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from distance and just 44 percent (11-for-25) at the free-throw line. Demone Harrison was just 6 of 16 from the field, but he finished with a team-high 20 points. UCM's Rakeem Dickerson led all scorers with 21 points. Jordan Epps added 20 and Dillon Deck contributed 10 off the bench. T.J. White had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Mules led by as much as 15 in the first half and carried a 32-20 lead into intermission. The RiverHawks kept it near that margin for the first 12 minutes of the second half, but the home team proved too much as UCM built a 22-point lead en route to the 19-point victory.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - SBU 79, NSU 68
NSU lost 79-68 to Southwest Baptist inside Meyer Sports Center on Jan. 8, 2015. The RiverHawks were led by Trey Mohair, who scored a career- and game-high 18 points, which included a career-high nine made free throws. Landon DeMasters finished with 11 points, going 4-for-5 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc in 16 minutes. Northeastern State took a 2-0 lead on a C.J. Winzer bucket 49 seconds into the game and remained on top until midway through the second half. The RiverHawks led by as many as 12 points in the first half before taking a 37-29 lead at halftime. The Bearcats went on a 22-11 run to begin the second half and took the lead with 8:58 remaining in the game, 49-48. SBU outscored the RiverHawks 50-31 in the second half to earn the 11-point victory. 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.
 
RETURNING JUST 3
NSU entered the 2015-16 campaign with just three players who have stepped on the court for the RiverHawks prior to this year. Senior forward Dakota Caudill had posted the most experience, as he is currently in his fifth year with the program. Senior guard Trey Mohair and sophomore guard Montre' Williams are both in their second seasons donning the green and white. Junior guard Mytaa'h Crawford and freshman guard Mike Thompson were both on the team last season, but they redshirted and did not see any playing time. In total, NSU's current lineup features eight newcomers. That includes one senior transfer (Killven Samuel), five junior transfers (Erick Broadnax, Braxton Williams, Javon Wallace, KD Moore, Stefon Rich) and two true freshmen (Peyton Pratt, Tanner Mouse). There is also another junior transfer (Scott Kingsley) and two more true freshmen (Gordon Hill, Trent Cantrell) who are sitting out the season.
 
NSU SELECTED 13TH IN MIAA PRESEASON POLLS
The Northeastern State men's basketball team was selected to finish 13th in the 2015-16 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll. The RiverHawks earned 29 points in the coaches' poll and were projected to finish just outside the cut line for the MIAA Championship tournament in March. NSU has qualified for the tournament all three years since joining the league, including last season when the team finished in a tie for 12th. Each of the top five teams in the preseason poll received at least one first-place vote, headlined by Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats were awarded nine first-place votes and were projected to win the league with 164 points. Central Missouri earned one first-place vote and landed in second with 143 points. Nebraska-Kearney fell into third with 141 points (one first-place vote), and Missouri Southern State was selected fourth with 140 points (two first-place votes). Pittsburg State earned the final first-place vote and was predicted fifth with 134 points. The RiverHawks were slated to finish ahead of Lincoln (14 points).
 
SEASON TICKET PACKAGES ON SALE
Season ticket packages have been announced by the NSU Athletics Department for the 2015-16 Northeastern State basketball seasons. Prices begin as low as $95 for an adult general admission ticket for the 28-game home portion of the upcoming men's and women's basketball schedules. Season chair back seats are $145 each. Both teams will compete 14 times inside the NSU Event Center, which is the top NCAA Division II facility in the region and one of the premier D-II facilities in the entire country. Season ticket holders receive the benefit of sitting in comfortable chair back seats. They also receive first option to purchase playoff tickets, premier seating for NSU's 28 home contests, and excellent view of the 78,200 square foot multipurpose event center. Also for convenience, the NSU Athletics Department will continue utilizing online ticketing for football and basketball. Online ticketing allows for advanced ticket sales. All fans are required to show a ticket prior to entering an NSU football or basketball contest. NSU students and faculty/staff are allowed free admittance, but NSU ID's are not accepted as a form of entry. The RiverHawks are in their fourth year in the MIAA. Both the men's and women's programs have qualified for the MIAA Championship playoffs all three years since joining the league.
 
TICKETS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY IN 2015-16
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.
 
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.