Hobbs' Career-High 32 Powers NSU Over Griffons

The Northeastern State men's basketball team knocked off Missouri Western State 73-61 Saturday evening inside MWSU Fieldhouse.

Junior guard Bryton Hobbs scored a career-high 32 points to lead the RiverHawks (15-5, 8-4 MIAA). He finished 10-for-17 from the field, 4-for-7 from distance and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line, while adding nine rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes.

The 32-point performance was the most by a RiverHawk since Dominique Gaines dropped 37 at Incarnate Word on Dec. 4, 2010.

NSU also received a 15-point, 13-rebound performance from Jermaine Bransford, and senior guard Jon Miller added 14 points off the bench.

Northeastern State shot 50 percent (25-for-50) from the field and 88 percent (15-for-17) at the charity stripe. The Griffons (8-12, 4-8 MIAA) shot 42 percent from the field (24-for-58) and were just 4 of 6 (67 percent) at the free-throw line.

The home side built an 18-10 lead over the course of the first 6:33, but the RiverHawks flipped the script and led 31-23 at intermission after outscoring Missouri Western State 21-5 in the last 12:59.

NSU came out of the locker room on fire, making its first six shots and powering ahead 48-33. The visitors led by as many as 20 points (62-42 at the 7:38 mark) in the second half and never allowed the Griffons to get within single digits.

Northeastern State outrebounded Missouri Western State 39-24. Cedric Clinkscales led MWSU with 13 points, and Dzenan Mrkaljevic added 12.

The RiverHawks will play host to Lindenwood at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 inside Jack Dobbins Field House.