RiverHawks to Play Rhema; Gipson to be Honored
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Northeastern State steps out of Lone Star Conference action to play Rhema Bible College in a non-conference men's basketball clash at Jack Dobbins Field House Monday night.
It will be the final Dollar night with admission to the game $1 and hot dogs a dollar for the 7 p.m. clash.
RiverHawks head coach Larry Gipson will also be honored before the contest with the Eagles for winning his 500th career game as a collegiate head coach at Northeastern A&M Junior College, the University of Toledo and Northeastern State. Gipson is currently 504-297 in 27 years of coaching. Gipson, who is in his 13th season as head coach of the RiverHawks is currently 219-137, which includes a Division II national championship in 2003.
The Eagles come into Dobbins Field House with a 3-12 record, while the RiverHawks are 8-5 overall after sweeping two Lone Star Conference opponents last week, West Texas A&M 69-62 and Eastern New Mexico 72-60. The Eagles and NSU have played no common opponents this season; however, the Eagles have played two LSC North Division clubs, Southwestern State and East Central, losing to both, falling to East Central 104-72, 108-75 and to Southwestern State 67-35.
Rhema enters the game scoring 78.1 points an outing with Carl Dixon, 5-10 sophomore guard the Eagles leading point producer, averaging 13.6 points. Dixon is shooting 50.5 percent from the field and from behind the arc 38.5 connecting on 25-of-65 attempts. At the line Dixon has connected on 37-of-57 for a 64.9 percent mark at the stripe.
The Eagles have two other players scoring in double figures, Mike McGhee and Robert Sanders. Sanders, 6-3 sophomore forward, is averaging 14.8 points, shooting 45.3 percent for the field and is the Eagles leading rebounder, pulling down 7.5 caroms a game. McGhee, 6-2 sophomore guard, who is averaging 12.6 points. McGhee is a 45.3 percent shooter from the field and 29 percent on 3-point attempts.
The RiverHawks' 6-7 senior post player Jason Jones continues to lead Northeastern State in scoring with a 17.0 scoring average as NSU is scoring 67.5 points a contest. The pre-season All-America candidate is shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from behind the arc. Jones is NSU's leading rebounder. The burley center has grabbed 119 boards this season for an average of 9.2.
Dominique Gaines, 6-2 junior guard, enters the Rhema clash with a 16.0 scoring average after a 20-point performance against Eastern New Mexico to establish a single-season and career season best while at Northeastern State. Gaines, who has played only five games for the RiverHawks since becoming eligible, is shooting 41.7 percent from the field.
Marlon Burnett is the third member of the RiverHawks scoring in double digits. Burnett, 6-2 senior guard, is averaging 13.4 points and shooting 48.4 percent from the floor. Antoine Branch a 5-11 junior guard is also averaging double-figure scoring at 10.9. Branch, who is a 42.6 percent shooter from the floor, leads NSU in steals with 14 and has dished out 20 assists on the year.
After the Rhema game, Northeastern State opens Lone Star Conference North Division play on the road at Lawton Wednesday night against the Cameron Aggies. Tip-off at Aggie Gym is 8 p.m.
