RiverHawks Battle High Powered West Texas A&M
TAHLEQUAH, OKLA. -- The Northeastern State and West Texas A&M clash Thursday night at Jack Dobbins Field House will feature the top defensive club in the Lone Star Conference against a high powered offense in a LSC crossover clash.
Tip-off for the Dollar Night contest is 8 p.m. NSU fans will be admitted to the game for $1 and it's also dollar hot dog night.
It will be the 16th meeting between the RiverHawks and Buffaloes with West Texas A&M leading the series 8-7. A year ago the RiverHawks defeated the Buffaloes 76-69 in Canyon, Texas.
West Texas, 9-4, enters the game red-hot winning 8 of its last nine games including the last three by scoring 90-plus points. The Buffaloes defeated Panhandle State in its last outing 91-62 which included 11 treys, five by 6-2 junior guard LaDarikus Hall, who scored 18 points.
In West Texas's two previous outings prior to the Panhandle clash the Buffaloes scored 92 points against New Mexico Highlands and 92 on Texas A&M-Commerce.
However, the Buffaloes' scoring machine, which is averaging 78.2 points, may find it much more difficult against the RiverHawks, 6-5, the Lone Star Conference top defensive club at 58.2 points and to rank No. 4 on the NCAA Division II's defensive scoring charts.
"It's a typical West Texas team, big, strong and physical," said Northeastern State head coach Larry Gipson. "They are going to play good defense, just like Arkansas Tech did against us. We are going to have to handle the ball and be determined in what we do.
"We have to get focused on West Texas and meet the challenge," said Gipson.
NSU and West Texas have played one common opponent this season - Arkansas Tech. The Wonder Boys defeated the RiverHawks Monday night 65-54 at Dobbins Field House. West Texas fell to the fifth-rated Wonder Boys 78-63 in the Buffaloes second game of the season at Canyon, Texas.
West Texas will start four players that are scoring in double-figures led by 6-3 junior guard Joe Mincey, a transfer from Coastal Georgia Community College. Mincey is averaging 14.4 points and is shooting .426 from the field. He is the leading rebounder, pulling down 4.3 caroms a game.
Hall, 6-2 junior guard, a transfer from South Plains College, is scoring 12.9 points and is shooting .432 from the field. He is the Buffs top 3-point shooter, hitting at a .365 clip (27-of-74).
Nick Burns, 6-1 guard, is also averaging 12.9 points, with Bijan Dotson, 6-7 senior forward averaging 10.9 points.
Defensively the Buffaloes are giving up 70.6 points to opponents to rank 10th in the Lone Star Conference.
NSU pre-season All-American candidate Jason Jones, 6-7 post, who collected this third double-double of the season against Arkansas Tech Monday night with 12 points and 11 rebounds, leads the RiverHawks in scoring with a 16.7 scoring average. Jones leads NSU in rebounding pulling down 9.3 boards a game. He has 10 block shots in 11 games for NSU.
Marlon Burnett, 6-2 senior guard, is averaging 14.2 points, followed by Dominic Gaines, 6-2 junior guard, at 14.0 points and 5-11 junior guard Antoine Branch, who is scoring 11.4 points.
The RiverHawks will battle Eastern New Mexico in a Lone Star Conference crossover game Saturday at 4 p.m. It will be Dollar Day at Jack Dobbins Field House with admission $1 and dollar hot dogs.
On Monday night NSU will go against Rhema Bible College in a non-conference game. RiverHawks head coach Larry Gipson will be honored for winning his 500th college basketball game as a head coach. Tip-off at Jack Dobbins Field House is 7 p.m.
