Men's Basketball | 1/6/2012 12:51:00 PM
COMING HOME
The Hornets will play at home for the first time in 2012 after not playing at home since Dec. 17. ESU has gone 4-1 at home and is 2-0 in MIAA play.
LAST TIMEOUT
The Emporia State men’s basketball team outshot #14 Missouri Southern .490 to .460, but could not overcome a strong Lion rebounding effort in an 82-73 loss. ESU was outrebounded 41-26 as MSSU got three more field goals and seven more free throws to fend off the Hornet attack. Antonio DiMaria had four three-pointers and led the Hornet effort with 16 points and six rebounds. Taylor Euler added 12 points for ESU. Chris Sights also had 12 points while Travis Dykman finished with a career high 11 points.
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 7-5 in his first year at ESU. The former NBA round draft pick spent the last ten years as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level, most recently at Boise State University. As a player he led Hutchinson CC’s to the 1988 NJCAA National Championship before earning first-team All-Big 8 honors at Colorado.
Kevin Muff is 21-18 in two seasons at Pittsburg State. He is 1-1 against ESU in his career.
SCOUTING THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 8-5, 4-3 in the MIAA this season. They are led by Eric Ray who is averaging 13.1 points per game. Andra Bailey is averaging 11.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 181st meeting between the two teams with ESU holding a 93-87 overall advantage. The Hornets have won four of the last five and three straight games at White Auditorium.
LAST TIME VS. PITT STATE
The Emporia State men overcame an 18 point deficit in the first half on the way to an 82-81 win over Pittsburg State on Feb. 16, 2011 in White Auditorium. Xavier Burnette led ESU with 19 points and Michael Tyler added 15 points. Robert Moores scored 12 and Adam Holthaus 10 to round out the double figure scorers for ESU.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will face Lincoln at home on Jan. 11 for a scheduled 7:30 p.m. from W. L. White Auditorium. They will then travel to Washburn for the Turnpike Tussle on Jan. 14 for a scheduled 3:30 p.m. tip-off.
