Men's Basketball | 2/24/2012 1:31:00 PM
FINAL TEST
The Hornets will travel to Fort Hays State for their final regular season game. With a Truman loss earlier in the day at Central Missouri. ESU would clinch the final spot in the MIAA Tournament. With a Truman win ESU would be eliminated from postseason play.
LAST TIMEOUT
ESU shot .632 in the second half, but came up shy of a comeback against Washburn in a 68-60 loss in the Turnpike Tussle. The Hornets were led by Tola Lawal who finished with 21 points and five rebounds for ESU. Chris Sights added 11 points for the Hornets while Antonio DiMaria added 10 points. Chris Simmons had a career high eight rebounds.
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 9-16 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 Fort Hays State.
Mark Johnson is 224-98 in 10 seasons at Fort Hays State. He is 8-6 in his career against the Hornets.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 17-8 and 11-8 in the MIAA this season. They are led by Karron McKenzie who is averaging 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Kendrick Morse is averaging 10.4 points while Matt Simmons is averaging 10.0 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 174th meeting between the two teams with FHSU holding a 89-84 overall advantage.
LAST TIME VS. FHSU
ESU erased an 11 point deficit in the second half, but came up shy in overtime in a 72-67 loss to #25 Fort Hays State. Troy Pierce led the way with 15 points and seven rebounds to go along with three assists. Chris Sights also had 15 points for the Hornets and led the way with six assists. Travis Dykman was two of three from the three point line and scored a career high 13 points.
UP NEXT
Wtih a loss by Truman the Hornets will play as the #8 seed in the MIAA Tournament. The Hornets will face one of four teams battling for the top seed at 12 noon on March 2 from Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
