Men's Basketball | 2/10/2012 12:25:00 PM
REAL MEN WEAR PINK
The Hornets will face Missouri Southern on Think Pink Night. The Hornets will look to even their record against ranked teams this season after starting the year 1-2. Two of the Hornets three games against ranked teams have been decided by three points or less or in overtime.
LAST TIMEOUT
ESU shot .521 in the game, but could not overcome Southwest Baptist’s .628 shooting in a 77-65 loss. Both teams combined to hit 16 three pointers as each team shot above .400 from behind the arc. Troy Pierce led the Hornets scoring 16 points and adding three rebounds. Tola Lawal added 15 points while Chris Sights had a career high nine points.
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 8-13 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 to the 1988 NJCAA National Championship before earning first-team All-Big 8 honors at Colorado. He is 0-1 in his career against Missouri Southern.
Robert Corn is 372-281 in his 22nd season at Missouri Southern. He is 18-17 against ESU in his career.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is 19-5 and 11-5 in the MIAA and are ranked #19 in the nation. They are led by Keane Thomann who is averaging 21.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He is joined in double figures by Jason Adams who is averaging 18.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 73rd meeting between the two teams with MSSU holding a 44-28 overall advantage. The Hornets, however have won eight of the last ten on their home floor.
LAST TIME VS. SBU
ESU shot .490 from the field but could not overcome a strong performance from the line in a 75-68 loss to Pittsburg State. The Hornets made only nine free throws while the Gorillas hit 24 of 29 from the charity stripe. Tola Lawal led the Hornets with 24 points, scoring 16 of his points as ESU made their second half comeback. Chris Sights added three points for the Hornets going two of two from behind the three-point line. Troy Pierce and Taylor Euler had 11 points apiece.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will travel to Pittsburg St. on Feb. 15 for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
