RiverHawks Hold Off Texas A&M-Commerce

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - It rained threes  and then free throws at Jack Dobbins Field House Wednesday night as the Northeastern State RiverHawks held off  visiting Texas A&M-Commerce for an 86-80 Lone Star Conference North Division victory.

The win gives the RiverHawks sole possession of second place in the LSC North at 5-1 and 14-7 overall. The Lions are now 4-2 and 15-6.

The win also made Northeastern State head coach Larry Gipson the second winningest coach in NSU history with 225 victories, surpassing former coach Ken Hayes. Jack Dobbins is NSU's winningest coach with 314 victories.

The RiverHawks had five players score in double figures led by Dominique Gaines' 22 with Marlon Burnett scoring 18 followed by Brent Grice's 16, Jason Jones 15 and Antoine Branch 10.

Northeastern State connected on 19-of-32 free throws, draining 15-of-23 in the final 5:30 of the contest. The RiverHawks shot 51 percent from the floor on 27-of-52.

Ronnie Morgan and Cardell Hunter led Commerce's scoring with 16 points each.

"We shot well and played well tonight," said Gipson. "Now we have to turn around and go to their place on Saturday.  "This game was very critical and I am very happy that we won the basketball game. We'll enjoy it today and then get focused on the next one at Commerce," said Gipson.

Northeastern State at one point drained nine consecutive 3-point shots, hitting five in the final 5:30 of the first half and four over the first 4:30 of the second half.

The RiverHawks led by as many as 19 points in the second half, 52-33 with 16:04 left before the Lions made a late surge and NSU going to the free throw line.

The opening 20 minutes was up and down basketball and the RiverHawks ability to drain 3-point shots. Northeastern State sank 8-of-13 attempts from behind the line en route to a 36-31 lead at the intermission. NSU finished 13-of-27 for the game behind arc.

The game was tied five times in the first 20 minutes and the lead changed eight before Northeastern State rallied from a 24-19 deficit with 6:00 left to pull within a point on a trey by Gaines.

The RiverHawks then hit back to back 3-pointers to tie the game at 28-all at the 4:18 mark before taking the lead for good in the half on another 3-point shot, this one by Burnett for a 32-28 lead following a free throw by Jesse Scroggins with 3:06 remaining in the half.

Texas A&M Commerce did not score the final 4:18 of the half as NSU's defense locked down the Lions offensive attack.

Northeastern State shot 50 percent for the half 13-of-26 and 61 percent from behind the arc (8-of-13).

The RiverHawks and Lions will meet again, this  time on Saturday at Texas A&M-Commerce with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m.