NSU Drops Missouri Southern State, 77-73

The Northeastern State men's basketball team collected a 77-73 victory over Missouri Southern State Wednesday night inside Jack Dobbins Field House.

The RiverHawks (17-6, 10-5 MIAA) completed the season sweep over MSSU, while the Lions (11-11, 6-8 MIAA) saw their recent two-game win streak snapped. One of those wins included a victory over league-leader Central Missouri.

Junior guard Bryton Hobbs led NSU with 23 points, six assists and five rebounds in 40 minutes of action. Senior guard Ethan Anderson contributed 14 points, and senior forwards Jermaine Bransford and John Schneider poured in 13 and 11, respectively. Schneider also added nine rebounds.

Northeastern State shot a blistering 48 percent (30 of 63) from the field but only 18 percent (3 of 17) from downtown and 67 percent (14 of 21) at the line.

Missouri Southern State countered with a 44-percent shooting clip (23 of 52), 42 percent (8 of 19) from distance and 73 percent (19 of 26) at the charity stripe.

Jordan Talbert paced the visitors with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Marquis Addison poured in 18 points, reserve Stephen Atkinson contributed 15 and Cameron Cornelius added 11.

The RiverHawks dominated the points in the paint (42-14), points off turnovers (18-6) and second-chance points (17-8). NSU turned the ball over just eight times, while the Lions coughed up the rock on 13 occasions.

Neither team led by more than four points in the first half. There were eight ties and six lead changes in the first 20 minutes of action, and NSU carried a slim 35-34 advantage into the break.

Missouri Southern State tied the contest at 37-37 early in the second, but NSU used an 8-0 run to take the largest lead of the game of 45-37 at the 16:15 mark.

The RiverHawks were unable to run and hide, however, as the visitors quickly rebounded and took a 58-56 lead with 11:14 left.

The lead flip-flopped a few more times down the stretch, but a Bransford jumper at 2:02 would give NSU a lead it would not relinquish.

In a game that saw 14 lead changes and 12 ties overall, it was a final 8-3 run by Northeastern State that proved to be the difference in the four-point victory for the home side.

The RiverHawks will now travel to Pittsburg State for a 3:30 p.m. tip Feb. 16.