RiverHawks Go For Sweep Against East Central
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Northeastern State after escaping Southeastern State 61-60 in Durant on Wednesday night, will be seeking another sweep when the RiverHawks play host to East Central University at Jack Dobbins Field House Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The RiverHawks defeated East Central 79-63 at Ada on January 23rd.
Despite double-double performances by Dominique Gaines (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Jason Jason Jones (11 points and 11 rebounds) it took a Jesse Scroggins' free throw with 23 seconds remaining to get the victory.
Antoine Branch poured in 15 points for NSU, all in the first half, and all from behind the arc as he drained 5-of-10 from 3 point range.
Now the RiverHawks will take a 16-7 season record and 7-1 Lone Star Conference North Division mark into the game against East Central which enters with 6-16 and 1-7 records.
The Tigers fell to Texas A&M-Commerce 77-60 on Wednesday night despite Eric Allen's 17 points and 11 boards for a double-double. Allen is ECU's leading scorer with an 18.4 scoring average.
Maurice Abraham and Denarius Darby each scored 12 and 11 points respectively against Texas A&M Commerce. Abraham comes into the NSU game with a 13.3 scoring average and Darby is at 10.1 points per game. ECU's Wayne Andrews and Dontae Figgs are scoring 12.1 and 10.3 points a game.
The Tigers are the most prolific scoring team in the Lone Star Conference averaging 83.3 points a game, but are giving up 88.9 points a game.
Northeastern State is led by Gaines' 18.8 scoring average and is scoring 67.6 offensively, allowing opponents only 60.7 a game, tops in the LSC North Division and No. 2 in the overall league statistics.
Jones, a Division II Pre-Season All-American selection, is scoring 15 points a game followed by Marlon Burnett at 12.2 points and Branch at 10.3 points a game.
Following the East Central game the RiverHawks will look toward their contest with the University of Central Oklahoma, on January 20th, Hall of Fame Weekend.
