Men's Basketball | 2/7/2013 2:59:00 AM
HOME AGAIN
The Hornets return to White Auditorium to take on Lincoln in a Thursday night game. Members of the Emporia State Athletic Director’s Honor Roll will be honored at half-time.
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 17-28 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 2-0 against Lincoln.
John Redmond is 15-85 in his fourth year at Lincoln and 89-116 in his seventh year as a head coach. He is 0-4 against Emporia State.
LAST TIME OUT
Kaleb Wright’s attempt at a game winner at the buzzer fell short as Emporia State fell 52-51 at Northwest Missouri on Saturday. The Hornets trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and by nine points with 17:40 left in the game. Gavin Brown and Paul Bunch each scored 12 points to pace the Hornets and were joined in double figures by Michael Harris with 11 points. Harris scored seven straight during a 14-2 run at one point. Bunch had a team high eight rebounds and three blocks.
ABOUT EMPORIA STATE
The Hornets are 8-10 on the season, 3-7 in the MIAA. In the last six games seven different players have scored in double figures at least once for Emporia State, but you have to go back eight games to get a player to 20 points in a contest.
ABOUT LINCOLN
The Blue Tigers are 3-18, 2-9 in the MIAA. They have lost four straight since taking a 70-65 win at Northwest Missouri. Cedric Ridle is the leading scorer in the MIAA at 19.3 points per game. He has two 30 point games and is averaging 22.7 points per game over the last three games. Lincoln is last in the MIAA in scoring margin, field goal percentage, rebounding and assists.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 20th meeting between the two teams with ESU holding a 14-5 overall advantage. The Hornets have won six straight meetings, their longest streak against the Blue Tigers. The last win for Lincoln was a 76-70 decision in White Auditorium during the 1998-99 season
LAST TIME VS. THE BLUE TIGERS
Emporia State took a one game lead for the final spot in the MIAA Tournament with a 62-56 win at Lincoln. The Hornets took a 9-7 lead at the 13:29 mark in the first half and would never relinquish it, leading by as many as 15 late in the first half. Tola Lawal led the way for the Hornets scoring 17 points while Travis Dykman tied a career high with 13 points and added a team high seven rebounds. Troy Pierce added 12 points and pulled down six rebounds for the Hornets. Antonio DiMaria hit three 3-pointers and added nine points for ESU.
UP NEXT
Emporia State hosts MIAA newcmer Lindenwood on Saturday. It will be the first meeting between the Hornets and Lions. Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 3:30 p.m.
