RiverHawks Battle Abilene Monday
ABILENE, Texas -- Northeastern State is playing its final game of the first semester Monday and hopes to get back on the winning track and carry some momentum into the new year when the RiverHawks battle Abilene Christian at 4 p.m. at Moody Coliseum.
Both NSU and the Wildcats are seeking to rebound from Saturday losses. NSU fell to Angelo State 67-52 while Abilene hopes to snap a three-game losing streak after falling to the University of Central Oklahoma 93-69.
Northeastern State enters the game 5-4 and Abilene Christian is 4-5.
"Abilene has a very big strong front line and they play very similar to the way we want to play," said Northeastern State head coach Larry Gipson. "This going to be more of a front-line test for us.
"A trip like this (Angelo and Abilene) is one of us agianst the world. That kind of brings you together and we need that."
The Wildcats are led in scoring by 6-7 junior forward Giordan Cole with a 13.1 average, followed by 6-3 junior forward Eddie Thompson at 11.8 and 5-10 junior guard Dustin Helman is averaging 9.5 points. Cole is the Wildcats top rebounder at 7.5.
Abilene Christian is averaging 81 points a game and 69 points on defense compared to Northeastern State's 67.7 offensively and 56.2 on defense.
The RiverHawks are the top defensive club in the Lone Star Conference and rank No. 4 in the nation defensively.
Jason Jones, who was selected the LSC North Division Offensive Player of the Week last week, continues to lead the RiverHawks in scoring averaging 17.6 points an outing and in rebounding by pulling down 8.7 caroms per game.
Dominic Gaines, a transfer from Northeastern A&M, who played his first game at Angelo State on Saturday, since becoming eligible at the semester, was impressive with a 16-point performance.
"Dominic came in as a junior college All-American and did a some things that was very encouraging," said Gipson. "We had a disappointing afternoon at Angelo, but Dominic was the one bright spot we had."
Marlon Burnett enters the Abilene Christian game with a 14-point scoring average and Antoine Branch is scoring 11 points a game.
NSU fans who want to follow the RiverHawks against Abilene Christian can do so by going to the Abilene Christian web site at www.acusports.com and click on live stats located on the right side of the page.
Following the Abilene Christian game, the RiverHawks will return to action on January 4th for a home game against nationally ranked and unbeaten Arkansas Tech University at Jack Dobbins Field House. Tip-off is 7 p.m.
