EMPORIA STATE MEN TO HOST #24 CENTRAL MISSOURI

Men's Basketball | 1/10/2014 5:22:00 PM

Game #17
Emporia State Hornets (10-6, 3-3 MIAA)
vs. #24 Central Missouri Mules (13-2, 5-1 MIAA)
Saturday, January 11, 2014 • 7:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium (5,000)
Series Record: UCM leads 68-39 Last Meeting: at UCM 72, ESU 65 (Dec. 8, 2012)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (7:10 p.m. pregame) Internet Audio: kvoe.com
Television: None Internet Video: americaonesports.com ($8)
 Up Next: vs. Pittsburg State • Jan. 15, 2014 • 7:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium (5,000)

HOME AGAIN
Emporia State takes on #24 Central Missouri in the second game of a three game homestand on Slaymaker Court. It is the first game between the two in White Auditorium since Dec. of 2011.

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State shot 61.1% from the field on their way to an 87-80 win over Missouri Western on Wednesday night at Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium. Neither team led by more than eight points on the night. Missouri Western led 80-79 with 1:44 left.  Gavin Brown tied the game for Emporia State with a free throw at the 1:30 mark and Kaleb Wright gave the Hornets the lead with an old fashioned three point play with 42.3 seconds left.  Wright pulled a rebound from a Western miss with 25 seconds left and Micah Swank made it a two possession game at 85-80 with a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left.  Wright then iced it with two free throws with six seconds left. Wright led Emporia State with 28 points and nine rebounds while Brown had 12 points and a career high 17 rebounds.  Terrence Moore also scored 20 points while Paul Bunch added 12 points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots.

THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 32-38 in his third 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 1-2 against Central Missouri.
Kim Anderson is 257-92 in his 12th season at Central Missouri. He is 14-9 against Emporia State in his career.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State has five players averaging over 8.0 points per game led by Kaleb Wright at 17.0 points per game. Terrence Moore leads the MIAA in steals, Paul Bunch leads the league in blocked shots and Jevon Taylor has the top three point shooting percentage in the league. The Hornets are ranked third in the MIAA in defensive field goal percentage.

ABOUT THE MULES
Central Missouri is 13-2, 5-1 in the MIAA and ranked #24 in the NABC National Poll. Ten Mules are averaging at least 7.0 points and 15 minutes a game on the season.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 108th meeting between the two teams with Central Missouri holding a 68-39 overall advantage. Emporia State leads 25-20 in White Auditorium. The home team has won the last three games.

LAST TIME VS. CENTRAL MISSOURI
The Emporia State men outscored Central Missouri by eight points from the field but could not overcome a 15 point deficit at the line in a 72-65 loss to the Mules in Warrensburg, Mo.  The Mules hit six of ten free throws in the final 3:00 after the Hornets took a 65-64 lead with 3:16 left. After being held scoreless at Northeastern State in his previous game, Kaleb Wright scored a game high 20 points to lead Emporia State.  Paul Bunch had his first career double double with 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Hornets.

UP NEXT
The Hornets wrap-up their homestand on Wednesday, Jan. 15 against Pitt State. Tip from White Auditorium is set for 7:30 p.m.

FRIENDLY CONFINES
Emporia State is 6-1 at home this season and has won 121 of their last 159 games (.761) in White Auditorium. Twenty-eight of the 38 losses have been by less than ten points. The Hornets are 343-152 (.693) since 1979 in White Auditorium. The Hornets have posted a winning home record for ten of the past 11 years in White Auditorium and will lock up another winning record on Slaymaker Court with their next home win.  Emporia State is averaging 84.3 points on 49.8% shooting at home compared to 73.9 points per game on 43.8% shooting away from White Auditorium this season.

LEADING THE WAY
Emporia State has the MIAA individual leaders in three statistical categories. Paul Bunch leads the MIAA, is ranked fourth in the nation in blocked shots per game and has the most total blocks in the nation with 55 on the year.  Terrence Moore is ranked first in the MIAA and 19th in the nation in steals.  Jevon Taylor leads the MIAA in three-point percentage and would be in the five nationally, but needed one more make to qualify for the national rankings.  The three different players atop the conference rankings are the most of any team in the league. As a team the Hornets are second in the MIAA in blocked shots and three-point field goal percentage defense.

WE WANT MOORE
Guard Terrence Moore (So./Wichita, Kan.) leads the MIAA and is 15th in the nation in steals per game and is eighth in the country in total steals. He is 18th in the MIAA in scoring.  He is averaging 16.8 points per game and shooting 53.5% from the field in MIAA contests. He scored 20 points on nine of 11 shooting against Missouri Western, his third 20 point game in the last four. He had team highs of 16 points and six rebounds at Lindenwood. He scored 21 points at Lincoln, his second straight 20 point game, with four steals. He had a career high 27 points and seven rebounds against Missouri Southern. He scored ten points with six rebounds and a career high six steals against Newman. He scored nine points with six rebounds and three assists against Southwest Baptist. He scored 15 points with five assists and three steals against Southeastern Oklahoma. He scored 24 points on six of ten shooting from the field and 12 of 14 from the free throw line against Mary. He matched his career high with five steals at Alaska. He had 15 points and five steals against Bethel. He scored 18 points with four three-pointers, three steals and four assists against McPherson. He scored 11 points with three steals at Rockhurst. He had 17 points in the exhibition win over UMKC and a team high 15 points at Wichita State. He scored 13 points with six rebounds and two steals in the Hornets MIAA Tournament game last season against Missouri Southern. He scored 11 points on five of seven shooting against Ft. Hays State. He scored 19 points on nine of ten shooting against Southwestern. He scored 10 points off the bench with a team high three steals at Kansas. He was the Hornets leading scorer at Tulsa with 12 points, and led the team with four steals.
 
THE WRIGHT STUFF
Guard Kaleb Wright (Sr./Chicago, Ill.) is ranked sixth in the MIAA in scoring and 12th in free throw percentage. He is 11th in the nation in total field goal attempts and leads the MIAA. He is averaging 17.3 points and 4.8 boards per game in MIAA play. He scored 28 points with a career high nine rebounds against Missouri Western. He had 15 points and a team high four assists at Lindenwood. He scored 27 points off the bench at Lincoln and was five of five from the field in the second half. He was held to eight points on three of 14 shooting against Missouri Southern. He had 16 points against Southwest Baptist. He scored a career high 35 points with a career high five made three-pointers against Newman. He scored ten points with three assists at Northwest Missouri. He scored 12 points on four of five shooting from the three point line against Southeastern Oklahoma. He scored 18 points including a career best 12 of 13 from the free throw line against Mary. He had a career high 27 points against Fresno Pacific. He was six of ten from the field and scored 15 points against Sterling. He led Emporia State with 20 points at Rockhurst. He scored 17 points in the exhibition win over UMKC. He earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors after scoring 14.4 points and 2.9 assists per game last year. He scored 23 points at Missouri Southern. He had ten points, seven rebounds and career high seven assists at Neb.-Kearney. He had 19 points against Missouri Southern. He scored 16 points with a career high four steals against Missouri Western. He scored 20 points with three assists at Central Missouri. He scored 18 points on 8 of 13 shooting against Missouri S&T. He led the Hornets with 20 points at Western Oregon. He scored 22 points at Missouri S&T. He had a team high 11 points at Kansas State.

BIG PAUL
Center Paul Bunch (Sr./Chicago, Ill.) leads the MIAA, is ranked fourth in the nation in blocked shots per game. He is ranked third in the MIAA in field goal percentage and 15th in rebounding. He is shooting 60.5% from the field in MIAA games. He had 12 points on five of six shooting, eight rebounds and tied his career high with seven blocked shots against Missouri Western. He was three of four from the field for seven points at Lindenwood. He had his second straight double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds against Missouri Southern. He had 14 points, ten rebounds and tied his career high with seven blocks against Southwest Baptist. He blocked four shots against Newman. He was four of four from the field for 13 points at St. Mary's. He scored ten points off the bench on three of five shooting against Southeastern Oklahoma. He set the Alaska Invitational single game and tournament record with six blocked shots in the first game against Fresno Pacific and ended with 12 blocks in the three games. He scored 13 points with five rebounds and two blocks against Alaska. He had 18 points and 11 rebounds at Rockhurst. He had 20 points and eight boards at UMKC. He had nine points and nine rebounds with three blocks at Oklahoma State.  He was named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team as well as being an Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection last season. He was ranked third in the nation in blocks last season. He scored 15 points with ten rebounds and four blocked shots against Washburn. He scored 12 points on six of eight shooting with seven rebounds and seven blocks against Northeastern State. He had 16 points and 12 rebounds at Missouri Southern in Joplin. He had 12 points and ten rebounds against Lindenwood. He scored 14 points with eight rebounds and five blocks against Central Oklahoma. He had 18 points with nine rebounds against Missouri Southern. He had a career high 23 points to go with 13 rebounds at Southwest Baptist. He had 14 points, ten rebounds and three blocks at Washburn. He had 16 points and 15 rebounds at Central Missouri. He has 123 blocks in 36 games with the Hornets.

HE'S SWANKY
Guard Micah Swank (So./Pratt, Kan.) is ranked eighth in the MIAA in assist to turnover ratio, and 15th in three point percentage and steals. He dished a career high seven assists and finished with seven points against Missouri Western. He scored 15 points including a nine of nine performance at the free throw line at Lincoln. He hit a three-pointer in the second OT to give the Hornets a five point lead. He passed his career high with 16 first half points and ended with 18 against Southwest Baptist. His three-pointer with less than 13 seconds left gave Emporia State the lead against Newman. He was two for two from the three-point line for eight points with four assists against Southeastern Oklahoma. He scored a career high 11 points with three steals at Alaska. He matched his career high with seven assists and added three steals against Bethel. He scored ten points against Sterling.  He had seven assists against McPherson. He had seven boards at Oklahoma State. He had six points on two of three shooting from the three-point line against Missouri Southern in the MIAA Tournament last year. He had a team high four assists at Washburn. He scored six points in his first start at Missouri S&T.  

BROWN AND SERVE
Forward Gavin Brown (Sr./Junction City, Kan.) is ranked ninth in the MIAA in rebounding. He had 12 points, 17 rebounds and five assists against Missouri Western. It is the most rebounds by a Hornets since R'Cell Harris pulled 17 against Newman on December 8, 2001. He is the first Hornet to have over 15 rebounds in two games in a season since Scott Harkess had 17 against Northwestern Oklahoma and 18 against Northwest Missouri during the 1996-97 season. It was his first double-double since last year's game against the Griffons. He scored 12 points at Lindenwood. He had nine points and nine rebounds against Southwest Baptist. He scored ten points off the bench at Lincoln. He scored 12 points with seven rebounds, six of them offensive, against St. Mary's. He matched his season high with seven points at Alaska. He pulled 11 rebounds and dished three assists against Bethel. He had a career high 16 rebounds against Sterling. He scored 11 points with a career best three of three effort from the three point line against Northeastern State last season. He had 13 rebounds and seven assists against Lincoln. He scored 12 points on five of seven shooting with six rebounds, three steals and two blocks at Northwest Missouri. He had 13 points and ten rebounds against Missouri Western. He had 15 points and 12 rebounds while adding five assists and three steals against Missouri S&T. He led Emporia State with 14 points and six rebounds at Kansas.

TAYLOR MADE
Guard Jevon Taylor (Fr./Denver, Colo.) leads in the MIAA in three point field goal percentage and is ranked 13th in three point makes. He would be ranked in the top five in the nation in three point percentage but does not have enough makes to qualify for the national rankings. He took just one shot against Missouri Western. He was two of four from behind the arc at Lindenwood. He scored 19 points with four made three-pointers in his first career start at Lincoln. He took just one shot against Mo. Southern and had only ten shots in three games since scoring a career high 20 points on six of seven shooting from the field at Northwest Missouri. He was five of seven from behind the three-point line for 15 points against Southeastern Oklahoma. He scored 12 points against Mary and had ten points and four rebounds at Alaska. He had 15 points on six of seven shooting against Bethel. He averaged 18.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.4 assists per game for George Washington HS last year.  He connected on 74 of 164 three-point attempts to lead Colorado Class 5A in makes.

JORDANAIRRE
Guard Tyler Jordan (Fr./Ballwin, Mo.) had three assists against Missouri Southern. He scored 11 points on four of five shooting with three assists at Northwest Missouri. He grabbed a career high six rebounds with four assists against Bethel. He dished a career high seven assists and had five rebounds against McPherson. He had seven points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals at Oklahoma State. He averaged 13.2 points, four rebounds and three assists per game as a senior for Eureka (Mo.) HS last year.  He was a three-time All-Suburban West Conference and All-District performer.  He led Eureka HS to conference and district championships his senior year.   

SHARE THE WISDOM
Center McWisdom Badejo (So./Dallas, Texas) is shooting 74.2% from the field, going 23 of 31 on the year. He had four points on two shots and blocked a shot against Missouri Western. His only field goal against Lindenwood tied the score at 58 with 6:07 left. He scored a career high ten points against St. Mary's. He had six points and four rebounds in nine minutes against Bethel. He was four of five from the field for eight points in 13 minutes against McPherson. He scored eight points at Wichita State. He is a 6-9 transfer from Florida A&M. He averaged 1.1 points and 1.3 rebounds for the Rattlers with a season high ten points and six rebounds against Allen.  He was listed as one of the top names in college basketball last season.
 
THE BENTLEY OF BICYCLES
Forward Josh Pedersen (Fr./Olathe, Kan.) is expected back after missing three games while undergoing the concussion protocols. He was sidelined at the first practice back from the semester break. He scored a career high 12 points against Newman and twice tied the score on a pair of free throws in the final three minutes. He had two rebounds and two steals at Northwest Missouri. He had three steals and two assists in his first career start against Southeastern Oklahoma. He scored five points against McPherson. He had four rebounds at Oklahoma State. He averaged 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds for Class 5A state champion Shawnee Mission South
HS.  He was a first-team KBCA Class 5A All-State selection as a senior.

WINDY CITY WILDMAN
Forward Terrence Sardin (Fr./Chicago, Ill.) scored on his only shot of the night against Missouri Western. He got his first career start at Lindenwood. He gave Emporia State the lead for good with a tip dunk in the second overtime at Lincoln. He was two of two from the field at Northwest Missouri. He was five of seven from the free throw line on his way to seven points against Bethel. He averaged 12 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks for Perspectives Academy last season.  He had a triple double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and ten blocked shots against Brooks HS in the regional championship game.
 
A-MAYES-ING
Forward Nick Mayes (Jr. /Laramie, Wyo.) earned his first career start against Lincoln and pulled two rebounds. He scored two points and pulled three rebounds against Bethel. He was two of two from the line at Kansas last season. He saw action in five games in 2011-12 as a reserve. He played a season high 11 minutes at Pittsburg State on Feb. 15 and pulled down six rebounds.

TEMAAT MIGHT
Guard Jay Temaat (Fr./Lenexa, Kan.) is shooting 83.3% from the free throw line this season. He was four of five from the line against Southeastern Oklahoma. He hit both three-pointers he took against Mary.  He had 12 points on three of seven shooting from beyond the arc against Bethel. He scored 18 points on six of nine shooting with five three-pointers in 14 minutes against McPherson. He was the leading scorer for the Hornets at Oklahoma State with 12 points in 13 minutes.  He hit three of ten three pointers against the Cowboys. He averaged 17 points and four assists per game for Shawnee Mission West HS last season on his way to honorable mention All-State honors at the Class 6A level.

SLAYMAKER COURT
The court at William L. White Auditorium was formally named Ron Slaymaker Court at half-time of the Hornets win over Washburn on Feb. 28 after the City of Emporia approved a proclamation at their Feb. 20 city commission meeting.

HORNETS RANK 19TH IN NATION IN ATTENDENCE
The Emporia State men's basketball team continued a string of 11 straight years ranking in the top 25 in attendance among the nearly 300 NCAA Division II basketball playing schools. The Hornets drew an average of 1,678 fans to their 13 home games in White Auditorium during the 2012-13 season to rank 19th nationally. Emporia State outdrew 95 NCAA Division I schools. As a conference the MIAA drew 254,543 fans to the 186 games to lead all Division II conference in average attendance at 1,369 fans per game. The MIAA's total attendance was better than nine NCAA Division I conferences.

IN THE RAFTERS
Five Hornets have had their jersey's retired to the wall of White Auditorium.
•Wilbur Reeser (1944-48) - Reeser was named an NAIB All-American and was the Hornets leading scorer as the won a conference championship in 1948.
•Ron Slaymaker (Player 1954-60, Coach 1970-98) - As a player Slaymaker was named All-Conference and All-American during the 1957-58 season. As a coach he won an ESU leading 464 games from 1970-98.
•Jim Fraley (1956-60) - Fraley was the school's all-time leading scorer (1,509) until Brian Robinson broke his record in 1985. He was named Second-team NAIA All-American.
•Doug Glaysher (1960-64) - Glaysher was named an All-American after leading the Hornets to the NAIA National Semi-finals in 1964. He graduated as the second leading scorer in ESU history.
•Brian Robinson (1984-86) - Robinson was named a first team All-American in both his junior and senior season. He is the ESU all-time leading scorer with 2,533 career points.