TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State  men's basketball team still sits outside of a playoff position with four games left in the regular season. The RiverHawks (7-15, 6-12 MIAA) will play their final two road games of the year this weekend, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. contest against Washburn (14-9, 10-8 MIAA) Feb. 17 inside Lee Arena (4,150) in Topeka, Kansas. NSU will then meet Emporia State (11-13, 8-10 MIAA) at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 20 inside White Auditorium (5,000) in Emporia, Kansas.
 

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	24	Dakota Caudill	6-6, 220	Sr-3L	13.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg	Claremore, Okla.
F	33	Erick Broadnax	6-9, 200	Jr-TR	1.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg	Tullahassee, Okla.
G	23	Braxton Williams	6-4, 195	Jr-TR	5.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg	West Plains, Mo.
G	25	Trey Mohair	6-0, 190	Sr-1L	13.7 ppg, 4.7 apg	Denton, Texas
G	30	Peyton Pratt	6-0, 175	Fr-HS	4.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg	Sperry, Okla.
Washburn's Probable Starters
F	14	Christian Ulsaker	6-5, 195	Sr.	4.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg	McPherson, Kan.
F	22	Brady Skeens	6-5, 215	Jr.	9.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg	Federal Way, Wash.
F	34	Jeremy Lickteig	6-7, 220	Jr.	5.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg	Wichita, Kan.
G	03	Randall Smith	6-0, 170	So.	10.9 ppg, 4.5 apg	Lawrenceville, Ga.
G	05	Javion Blake	6-3, 185	Fr.	14.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg	Olathe, Kan.

NSU holds a 6-2 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, and Northeastern State topped Washburn 75-65 in Tahlequah earlier this year.
 
NSU leads ESU 6-5 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 RiverHawks defeated Emporia State 76-74 in Tahlequah earlier this year.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT - #23 NWMSU 73, NSU 66
NSU lost 73-66 to No. 23 Northwest Missouri State Saturday afternoon inside the NSU Event Center. Montre' Williams led the green and white with 14 points off the bench. Killven Samuel and Trey Mohair added 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Javon Wallace chipped in 10. Northeastern State shot 43.1 percent (22-for-51) from the field, 31.8 percent (7-for-22) from behind the 3-point line and 83.3 percent (15-for-18) at the free-throw line. Northwest Missouri State shot 46.8 percent (22-for-47) overall, 42.3 percent (11-for-26) from distance and 72 percent (18-for-25) at the line. Zach Schneider led all scorers with 23 points, while Justin Pitts added 18 and Conner Crooker chipped in 12. The RiverHawks led in assists (18-9), blocks (4-1), steals (6-0), points in the paint (20-12), points off turnovers (15-11), fast-break points (10-0), bench points (47-15), and fewer turnovers (10-11). NWMSU led in rebounding (31-28) and second-chance points (13-6).
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - NSU 75, WU 65
Northeastern State grinded out a hard-fought 75-65 victory over Washburn Jan. 7 inside the NSU Event Center. Trey Mohair paced the RiverHawks with 21 points, six assists and a career-high-tying five rebounds. This marked the 20th double-digit scoring effort of Mohair's career and his fourth game with at least 20 points. KD Moore added 11 points and Montre' Williams contributed 10. Braxton Williams hauled in 11 rebounds for the second time in three games. He also added six points, two steals and two assists. Northeastern State connected on 33.8 percent (23-for-68) overall, 30.4 percent (7-for-23) from behind the 3-point line and 68.8 percent (22-for-32) at the free-throw line. Washburn was held to its second-worst shooting percentage of the season at 35.8 percent (19-for-53). The visitors also made just 18.2 percent (4-for-22) of their long-range shots and 62.2 percent (23-for-37) of their free throws. This was also Washburn's third-lowest point total of the year. Cameron Wiggins led WU with 20 points, while the only other double-digit scoring effort came in the form of 10 points off the bench from Andy Wilson. The RiverHawks dominated the glass by a 54-39 margin. NSU led in assists (11-8), points in the paint (30-24), points off turnovers (16-15), bench production (32-18), second-chance points (16-11), steals (8-5) and fewer turnovers (12-15). WU led in blocks (6-2) and fast-break points (13-7).
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - NSU 76, ESU 74
The RiverHawks won its second-straight game by defeating Emporia State 76-74 on Jan. 9 inside the NSU Event Center. KD Moore led all scorers with 14 points off the bench. Killven Samuel added 12 points off the bench, while Trey Mohair scored 10. Northeastern State connected on 49.2 percent (29-for-59) on shots from the field, 25 percent (3-for-12) from behind the arc and 68.2 percent (15-for-22) at the free-throw line. The Hornets shot 46.4 percent (26-for-56) overall, a season-high 61.1 percent (11-for-18) from distance and just 50 percent (11-for-22) from the charity stripe. Charles McKinney paced the visitors with 14 points, while Terrence Moore added 11. Northeastern State outrebounded Emporia State 41-28. The RiverHawks also led in assists (16-13), steals (7-6), points in the paint (46-26), points off turnovers (21-14), second-chance points (20-7), fast break points (14-9), and bench production (42-33). ESU led in only one category with fewer turnovers (14-17).
 
WHERE THEY STAND
NSU is currently 6-12 in league play and is in 13th place in the MIAA standings. If the season were to end today, the RiverHawks would be one of two teams, along with Southwest Baptist, who would miss out on the 2016 MIAA Championship.
 
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 1-23 on the road, which includes a 1-13 mark last season and a 0-10 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 12-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's TINSLEY IN SECOND SEASON AT THE HELM
NSU's Jason Tinsley (Northwestern State, '79) is in his second season as the RiverHawks head coach. He led NSU to a 7-20 record and a berth in the MIAA Championship first round last year. Tinsley took the reins from Larry Gipson, who retired following a 17-year run that included the only NCAA Division II National Championship in school history (2003) and five appearances in the NCAA Championship tournament (2000-03, 2013). Tinsley comes to Tahlequah following a highly-successful run as head women's basketball coach from 2010-14 at NCAA Division III Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana. During his four-year stint with the Lady Cats, he led the program to an 89-25 record and three berths in the NCAA Division III Championship tournament. The team advanced to the Round of 32 in 2011, which included the first NCAA tournament victory in school history. He also led LC to three American Southwest Conference regular-season division championships and three ASC Conference Tournament finals appearances. At Louisiana College, Tinsley guided two NCAA Division III All-Americans, 11 all-conference performers, seven All-ASC Defensive Team members, two ASC Defensive Players of the Year, and two ASC Freshmen of the Year. Prior to his stint at LC, Tinsley served as head men's coach at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (NCAA D-II, Pembroke, N.C.) from 2003-08. His other head coaching stop came at Bossier Parish Community College (NJCAA D-I, Bossier City, La.) from 1999-02.
 
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).
 
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.