TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team returns home to face off against both Washburn and Emporia State this weekend in a pair of MIAA contests. The RiverHawks (2-9, 1-6 MIAA) will first welcome the Ichabods (9-3, 5-2) at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 before entertaining the Hornets (6-7, 3-4) at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 9.
 

Northeastern State's Possible Starters
F	24	Dakota Caudill	6-6, 220	Sr-3L	14.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg	Claremore, Okla.
F	33	Erick Broadnax	6-9, 200	Jr-TR	2.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg	Tullahassee, Okla.
G	23	Braxton Williams	6-4, 195	Jr-TR	5.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg	West Plains, Mo.
G	25	Trey Mohair	6-0, 190	Sr-1L	14.6 ppg, 4.0 apg	Denton, Texas
G	30	Peyton Pratt	6-0, 175	Fr-HS	6.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg	Sperry, Okla.
Washburn's Probable Starters
F	21	Robert Christopher	6-7, 195	So.	6.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg	Lenexa, Kan.
F	22	Brady Skeens	6-5, 215	Jr.	9.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg	Federal Way, Wash.
G	03	Randall Smith	6-0, 170	So.	9.7 ppg, 4.0 apg	Lawrenceville, Ga.
G	05	Javion Blake	6-3, 185	Fr.	13.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg	Olathe, Kan.
G	11	Cameron Wiggins	6-3, 170	So.	15.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg	Leavenworth, Kan.

GAME NOTES
NSU holds a 5-2 record over Washburn since joining the NCAA in 1996-97. Northeastern State topped the Ichabods 64-59 in the NCAA Second Round en route to winning the 2003 National Championship (March 15, 2003). The RiverHawks upset then-No. 10 ranked Washburn 85-78 Jan. 19, 2013. The two teams split the series during the regular season in 2013-14, while NSU defeated WU 79-75 in the opening round of the 2014 MIAA Men's Basketball Championship (March 4, 2014). The two teams won on their respective home floors last year.
 
NSU and ESU are tied at 5-5 since Northeastern State joined the NCAA in 1996-97. After splitting the first two meetings in 2005-06, the Hornets took both contests in 2006-07. The RiverHawks won both meetings in 2012-13, while Emporia State earned the victory in both games in 2013-14. NSU then swept the season series last year to help knock the Hornets out of the playoffs.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT - NWMSU 78, NSU 74
NSU dropped a narrow 78-74 road decision to Northwest Missouri State Monday night inside Bearcat Arena. Senior forward Dakota Caudill tallied a career-high 24 points while adding six rebounds in 27 minutes. Senior guard Trey Mohair poured in 18 points and fellow senior guard Killven Samuel added 12 off the bench. Samuel registered just four points total in the first half of the season and has erupted for 28 in his last two games. NSU converted 50 percent (31-for-62) of its field-goal attempts, while shooting 33.3 percent (6-for-18) from behind the 3-point line and 46.2 percent (6-for-13) at the free-throw line. NWMSU shot 45.1 percent (23-for-51) overall, 44 percent (11-for-25) from distance and 75 percent (21-for-28) at the line. Justin Pitts paced the Bearcats with 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Conner Crooker added 16, Zach Schneider netted 13 and Chris-Ebou Ndow tallied 11. The RiverHawks dominated the glass by a 38-27 margin. NSU also led in assists (13-12), blocks (5-0), points in the paint (42-24), and bench production (27-12). Northwest Missouri State led in steals (7-2), points off turnovers (16-10) and fewer turnovers (8-11).
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - WU 92, NSU 68
Northeastern State lost 92-68 to Washburn on Feb. 14, 2015 inside Lee Arena. Demone Harrison led NSU with 20 points, while 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. NSU held second-leading scorer Alex North to just three points, which marked his lowest point total since his sophomore year. The senior All-MIAA performer was able to pull down 12 rebounds and dish out seven assists despite his lack of scoring. All three of his points came at the free-throw line. Washburn went ahead 12-3 before the first media timeout, and the RiverHawks were never able to get the deficit back within single digits.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - NSU 73, ESU 63
The RiverHawks earned their first road win of the season by defeating Emporia State 73-63 on Feb. 12, 2015 inside White Auditorium. NSU had six players score at least nine points and four reach double figures. Keon Littleton came off the bench to pace the winning side with 17 points and seven rebounds. Demone Harrison registered 14, while Dakota Caudill and Trey Mohair each added 12. Amir Gilliam and C.J. Winzer each chipped in nine points. The RiverHawks torched the nets to a season-best mark of 60.9 percent (28-for-46). They also shot 63.6 percent (7-for-11) from behind the 3-point line and 47.6 percent (10-for-21) at the free-throw line. Emporia State was held to 41.5 percent (22-for-53) shooting overall, 30.8 percent (8-for-26) from distance and 78.6 percent (11-for-14) at the charity stripe. Micah Swank led the home team with 15 points. Terrence Moore took 14 shots to reach 15 points, and Jay Temaat needed 12 shots to get to 13 points. Northeastern State led by as many as 16 points in the second half before cruising to the 10-point victory. NSU outrebounded ESU 29-26 and also led in assists (15-10), steals (9-6), points in the paint (34-26), fast-break points (12-4) and bench points (26-17).
 
STRUGGLING AWAY FROM HOME
Northeastern State is currently enjoying Year 2 of the Jason Tinsley era. During that time, however, the RiverHawks have not fared well away from the friendly confines of the NSU Event Center. Over the last two seasons, NSU is just 1-20 on the road, which includes a 1-13 mark last season and a 0-7 record this year. The lone road win for Northeastern State over the past two years came on Feb. 12, 2015, when the team was able to get past Emporia State 73-63. NSU is currently on a 10-game losing streak on the road. The RiverHawks were able to pick up a neutral-site victory earlier this season when they defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State 92-90 on Nov. 14 in Durant, Oklahoma. 
 
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.