Men's Basketball | 2/20/2013 12:31:00 AM
?FINISHING STRETCH
Emporia State returns to White Auditorium to take on Pittsburg State in the first of three straight home games. The Hornets are just two games behind the Gorillas in the MIAA standings.
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 20-29 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 0-2 against Pittsburg State.
Kevin Muff is 45-34 in his third season at Pittsburg State. He is 3-1 against ESU.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State shot 65% from the field in the second half as they overcame an 11 point halftime deficit to defeat Missouri Southern 69-66 in Joplin, Mo. The Hornets trailed 40-31 at the half but used a 13-0 run early in the second half to go ahead 46-45 with 14:32 left. The lead went back and forth for the rest of the game until the Hornets took the lead for good with 2:08 left. Kaleb Wright had 23 points and Paul Bunch had his fifth double double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
ABOUT EMPORIA STATE
The Hornets are 11-11 on the season, 6-8 in the MIAA and have won three of their last four games. Emporia State is 7-2 in White Auditorium on the season. They lead the MIAA in defensive rebound percentage and have the best rebound margin in the league in MIAA games only.
ABOUT PITTSBURG STATE
The Gorillas are 15-7 on the season and 8-6 in the MIAA. They are 4-4 over their last eight games alternating wins and losses. They are 3-4 on opponents home courts this year. Four players average in double figures led by Kaleb Porter at 13.6 points per game. JaVon McGee is the top rebounder at 7.6 boards per game and adds 12.6 points per game.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 183rd meeting between the two teams with Emporia State holding a 93-89 overall advantage. The two have split their last ten meetings with Pittsburg State sweeping the season series last year. The Hornets have three of the last four meetings in White Auditorium.
LAST TIME VS. THE GORILLAS
Emporia State could not overcome 18 turnovers in a 61-44 loss at Pittsburg State last season. The Hornets tied the rebounding battle, but the Gorillas hit ten more field goals in the loss. The Gorillas would out score the Hornets 29-19 in the second half to seal the victory. Chris Sights was the only Hornet in double figures scoring 13 points and a team high eight rebounds. Tola Lawal added eight points while Travis Dykman had four assists.
UP NEXT
Emporia State play host to Northeastern State on Saturday, February 23 in White Auditorium. It will be a unique start time as tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. The annual Hornet Basketball Alumni Game will be held earlier in the afternoon.
