Men's Basketball | 1/17/2013 3:05:00 PM
LAST CALL FOR COACH SMITH
Emporia State returns to White Auditorium to take on Missouri Western in the first of three straight home games. It will be the last trip to White Auditorium for Griffon head coach Tom Smith.
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 15-25 in his second season at Emporia State. A first round draft pick by the Golden State Warriors in 1991 spent ten years as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level. 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 1-1 against Missouri Western.
Tom Smith is 445-270 in 25 seasons at Missouri Western. He is 615-454 in 37 years in his career. He is 34-13 in his career against the Hornets.
LAST TIME OUT
Chris Sights scored 17 points as Emporia State picked up their first MIAA win of the season with a 65-60 victory at Truman. The Hornets jumped out to a 16-6 lead and never trailed in the game. Kaleb Wright had 15 points while Paul Bunch added 10 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
ABOUT EMPORIA STATE
The Hornets are 6-7 on the season, 1-4 in the MIAA. Their 12 opponents have a combined record of 104-62 (.627) while the seven losses are to teams that are 64-29 (.688) on the season. Paul Bunch has three double-doubles in his last six games and is seventh in the MIAA in total blocks despite missing the first seven games.
ABOUT MISSOURI WESTERN
The Griffons are 7-8, 3-4 in the MIAA after a 78-69 home loss to Lindenwood on Wednesday. They gave Northwest Missouri their first MIAA loss on Saturday with a 71-58 win in St. Joseph. The Griffons are 3-4 away from MWSU Fieldhouse, but 3-2 in “true” road games. Cedric Clinkscales is averaging 13.8 points and 6.3 rebounds with 12 blocks on the season to lead Western in all three categories, but is the only Griffon averaging in double figures.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 70th meeting between the two teams with Missouri Western holding a 42-27 overall advantage. The Hornets have won five of the last six meetings in White Auditorium.
LAST TIME VS. THE GRIFFONS
The Emporia State men’s basketball team outscored Missouri Western 18-10 over the final 2:45, but the Griffons hit just enough shots from the free throw line to hold on for a 72-66 victory. ESU trailed by as much as 15 in the first half, but would get as close as four points in the final minute. Tola Lawal led Emporia State with a career high 28 points and also had five rebounds. Chris Sights hit a career high four three pointers as he added 20 points in the Hornet effort. Justin Ikhide and Troy Pierce both had eight rebounds to lead all players as Emporia State outrebounded Missouri Western 37-30 on the night.
UP NEXT
Emporia State plays the second game of a three game home stand on January 23 against Missouri Southern. Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 7:30 p.m.
