Saints Slugged

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. --- Northeastern State opened with a 16-0 run and cruised to a 99-37 victory over Hillsdale College Tuesday night at Jack Dobbins Field House.

The RiverHawks are now 3-3 for the season and the Saints fall to 1-13. NSU will now look to Thursday night's Lone Star Conference crossover game with Texas A&M-Kingsville at Dobbins Field House. Tip-0ff is 8 p.m.

Northeastern State hit its first seven shots of the contest and converted two free throws and the game was over at that point, 16-0 with 13:57 left in the first half.  Hillsdale did not score its first points until the 13:39 mark on a jumper by Hamid Dicko.

"We needed a game like this after losing two straight," said Northeastern State head coach Larry Gipson.

"It gave us an opportunity to play a lot guys and to see who will step up. We haven't been scoring a lot of points and we have been looking for someone to come forward and score.

"We have been depending on Jason (Jones), Marlon (Burnett) and Antoine (Branch) for all our points and they need some help scoring. Tonight I thought Ethan (Anderson) did an outstanding job and J.C. Sneed showed me something tonight. But we've got to have a lot more scoring production going into conference play," said Gipson.

The RiverHawks shot 58.7 percent from the field (37-of-63) as five NSU players scored in double figures. Anderson led the way for Northeastern State with 15 points followed by Branch with 14, Snead 13, with Jones and Burnett with 10 each.

The Saints' scoring was led by Darius Alford with 9 points as Hillsdale was just 13-of-51 from the field. NSU held a 49-19 rebounding advantage.

The RiverHawks led 45-14 at the half and increased its lead to 62 points, 94-32 with 2:39 remaining in the game.

Northeastern State will resume Lone Star Conference action on Thursday when it hosts Texas A&M-Kingsville in a crossover clash beginning at 8 p.m.