A Technical Victory

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. --- Northeastern State overcame its poorest shooting performance of the season to overtake Southeastern State 45-40 in a Lone Star Conference North Division clash at Jack Dobbins Field House Wednesday night.

The RiverHawks remain unbeaten in LSC North Division play at 3-0 and go to 12-5 for the season. Southeastern State falls to 5-12 and 0-2.

Northeastern State shot just 29 percent from the field connecting on 17-of-57 from the field and 4-of-30 from 3-point range. The Savage Storm also had their shooting problems with a 17-of-58 performance from the field for 29 percent.

Jason Jones led the team in scoring with 16 points and 9 rebounds, just missing his sixth double-double of the year. Jones was followed by Dominique Gaines with 14 points.

Darrell Hicks led the Savage Storm's scoring with 13 points and William Slones scored 10.

"There's no question we played excellent defense for 40 minutes, but I was disappointed in our approach to the game and disappointed in the approach in our readiness and preparation going into the game," said Northeastern State head coach Larry Gipson.

"We took far too many threes considering how we were shooting those. We just didn't shoot the ball well. But it was our ability to have defensive stops that was the difference in the game."

With NSU trailing 40-39 with 1:04 left Gaines was fouled by Chris Russell and on the rebound, three technical fouls were issued on the play. The RiverHawks' Antoine Branch  and Southeastern's Darrell Hicks were assessed technical fouls. However, the Savage Storm's William Slones was then issued a dead ball technical foul. 

Gaines went to the line connecting on one free throw to tie the game at 40-all for the common foul. Jones then took the technical foul free throws and hit one for a 41-40 RiverHawk lead.

The RiverHawks then took the ball out at midcourt and Jones scored inside the paint on a dish-off from Ethan Anderson to put Northeastern State up by 3 points 43-40 with 43 seconds left. After a missed Southeastern 3-point attempt, Gaines was fouled and he drained two free throws for the final 45-40 verdict with 23 seconds remaining.

Southeastern State held a 21-17 lead over the RiverHawks at the half, as Northeastern State shot a miserable 25 percent (7-of-28) its worst opening 20 minutes of the season. The Savage Storm wasn't much better as they were only 9-of-29 for 31 percent.

The first half was timed three times before Southeastern took the lead with 1:52 remaining 18-17 on a free throw by Zach Scrivner after being fouled by Brent Grice.

The Savage Storm made it 21-17 on a a pair of throws by Mychal Horn with 35 seconds left when he was fouled on a drive into the paint by Anderson.

Northeastern State returns to LSC North Division play Saturday at Ada against the East Central Tigers at 4 p.m.