Season Opener Friday for RiverHawks

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. --- Northeastern State opens the 2011-12 basketball season on Friday when the RiverHawks meet former Lone Star Conference foe, West Texas A&M, in the Newman Conference Challenge at 3:30 p.m. in Wichita, Kan. On Saturday, NSU will take on host, Newman, at 4:30 p.m.

Head coach Larry Gipson begins his 15th season at the helm for NSU and has compiled a record of 240-158 during his tenure. After a 9-17 season a year ago, Gipson welcomes back only three returnees in Justin Johnson, Ethan Anderson and Dee Willis. Two others, Terance Reaves and Jermaine Bransford, will serve as redshirts paving the way for a bevy of newcomers to impact the program.

Johnson started 23 games in 2010-11 and averaged 9.3 points per game as a power forward and led the RiverHawks with five rebounds per outing. Anderson, a two-year starter, put up 5.0 points and 4.3 rebounds a year ago and Willis had 19 starts as a redshirt freshman, averaging 4.1 points and three assists last season.

Gipson will be charged with filling a void left behind by leading scorer Antoine Branch (14.9 points per game), but has several transfers who can definitely pack a punch from the perimeter. Jon Miller (6-5, 205, Jr.,) and Landon DeMasters (6-4, 200, So.) have had good preseason outings. Miller had 17 points to pace NSU at Oklahoma on Nov. 1 and five in the Oral Roberts exhibition. DeMasters put through four at OU and 14 at ORU. Kevin Arnold (6-3, 175, Jr.) had 11 in each preseason game, proving he can provide an offensive spart off the bench for the RiverHawks.

Inside, Northeastern State will look to Tennessee-Martin transfer Zach Jones (6-6, 190, Jr.), John Schneider (6-7, 238, Jr.), a juco transfer from Independence and Dakota Caudill (6-6, 210), a true freshman from Claremore. On the perimeter, Jack Miller (6-0, 180, So.), the younger brother of Jon Miller, and Christian Mack (6-0, 177, Jr.,) who transferred from Irvine Valley (Calif.) College, are capable reserves.

NSU's schedule as an independent this year will be rugged, if not brutal. The RiverHawks begin the year with nine consecutive road games and will not have their home-opener until Dec. 10. However, 11 of NSU's next 17 games will be played at Dobbins Field House so a success on the road early could pay dividends later in the season.

See what Gipson has to say about the RiverHawks on this video.