Men's Basketball | 2/21/2012 5:32:00 PM
TURNPIKE TUSSLE
The Hornets will face Washburn in the second half of the Turnpike Tussle. It will be Senior Night for Emporia State as Troy Pierce, Tola Lawal, Antonio DiMaria and Chris Simmons will be honored prior to the game. The Hornets need a win to avoid the seventh tie in the overall series with the Ichabods.
LAST TIMEOUT
ESU took a one game lead for the final spot in the MIAA Tournament with a 62-56 win on the road at Lincoln. Tola Lawal led the way for the Hornets coming off the bench to score 17 points with five rebounds. Travis Dykman tied a career high with 13 points and Troy Pierce added 12 points for ESU.
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 9-15 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 Washburn.
Bob Chipman is 715-295 in his 33rd season with the Ichabods. He is 48-23 against the Hornets in his career.
SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 19-7 and 13-5 in the MIAA and are currently third in the league standings. They are led by Will McNeil who is averaging 19.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Martin Mitchell is also averaging double figures with 10.8 points per game.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 198th meeting between the two teams with ESU holding a 99-98 advantage. The Hornets have won three of the last five and ten of the last 15 meetings.
LAST TIME VS. WU
ESU shot a then season low .430 from the field in a 67-48 loss in the Turnpike Tussle. Washburn, who led the MIAA in turnover margin, forced 15 to ESU’s 11 and scored 18 points off them. Tola Lawal led the Hornets on the afternoon scoring 12 points and adding three assists. Chris Sights added ten points and two steals in the Hornet effort.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will play their final regular season game as they travel to Fort Hays State. Tip-off is at 8 p.m. on Feb. 25 following the NCAA Regional Wrestling Tourament in Hays, Kan.
