EMPORIA STATE MEN TRAVEL TO #24 FT. HAYS STATE

Men's Basketball | 1/29/2014 5:14:00 PM

Game #21
 Emporia State Hornets (14-6, 7-3 MIAA)
at #24 Fort Hays State (16-3, 7-3 MIAA)
Thursday, January 30, 2014 • 7:30 p.m. • Hays, Kan. •  Gross Memorial Coliseum (6,814)
Series Record: FHSU leads 91-84 Last Meeting: FHSU 79, at ESU 76 OT (Jan. 5, 2013)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (7:10 p.m. pregame) Internet Audio: kvoe.com
Television: None Internet Video: americaonesports.com ($8)
 Up Next: at Neb.-Kearney  • Feb. 1, 2014 • 3:30 p.m. • Kearney, Neb. •  Health & Sports Center (5,600)

HEAT CHECK
Emporia State travels to #24 Fort Hays State in a battle of two of the hottest teams in the MIAA. The Hornets have won five straight while the Tigers are on an eight game streak.

LAST TIME OUT
Kaleb Wright scored 32 points to lead the Emporia State men to their fifth straight win with a 92-80 victory over Central Oklahoma on Sunday afternoon. The first half saw four ties and seven lead changes before the Hornets took the lead for good. A 14-3 run capped by a fast break dunk from Tyler Jordan turned a one point lead into a 12 point lead for Emporia State with 4:54 left in the half.  The Hornets took an eight point lead to the locker rooms at 47-39.  A hoop and harm three-point play by Kaleb Wright with 2:41 left gave Emporia State a 20 point lead before settling in for the 92-80 win. Wright scored his 32 points on 12 of 19 shooting from teh field and a seven of seven effort from the free throw line.  Moore contributed 21 points, six rebounds and three steals. Paul Bunch scored 14 points on six of eight shooting with eight rebounds and two blocked shots.  The Hornets shot a blistering 63.8% from the field.

THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 36-38 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 0-3 against Ft. Hays State.
Mark Johnson is 262-109 in his 13th season at Ft. Hays State. He is 12-7 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State has won five straight games and six of their last seven. They are led by Kaleb Wright at 18.7 points per game. Terrence Moore leads the MIAA in steals, Paul Bunch leads the league in blocked shots. Wright is ranked fourth in the MIAA in scoring. The Hornets are ranked second in the MIAA in defensive field goal percentage.

ABOUT THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 16-3 overall, 7-3 in the MIAA and ranked #24 in the NABC poll. They have won eight straight games since suffering their only home loss of the season against NWMSU. Dwayne Brunson is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Tigers at 17.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 176th meeting between the two teams with Ft. Hays State holding a 91-84 overall advantage. The Tigers lead the Hornets 9-7 in 16 meetings in MIAA play since FHSU joined the league in 2006.

LAST TIME VS. FT. HAYS STATE
Emporia State had a ten point lead with 3:30 left but were outscored 12-2 down the stretch to go to overtime before falling 79-76 to Ft. Hays State. Five Hornets scored in double figures led by Chris Sights with 16 points. Paul Bunch and Kaleb Wright each scored 13 points while Terrence Moore added 11 and Tre Boutilier chipped in ten.

UP NEXT
The Hornets travel to Neb.-Kearney on Saturday to take on the Lopers. Tip-off from the Health & Sports Center is set for 3:30 p.m.

FRIENDLY CONFINES
Emporia State is 9-1 at home this season and has won 124 of their last 162 games (.765) in White Auditorium. Twenty-eight of the 38 losses have been by less than ten points. The Hornets are 346-152 (.695) since 1979 in White Auditorium. The Hornets have assured themselves their 11th  winning home record in the past 12 years in White Auditorium.  Emporia State is averaging 86.0 points on 52% 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 two statistical categories. Paul Bunch leads the MIAA, is ranked fourth in the nation in blocked shots per game and is third in total blocks in the nation with 63 on the year.  Terrence Moore is ranked first in the MIAA and 23rd in the nation in steals per game and is eighth with 48 total steals.   As a team the Hornets are second in the MIAA in blocked shots and field goal percentage defense.

THE WRIGHT STUFF
Guard Kaleb Wright (Sr./Chicago, Ill.) is ranked fourth in the MIAA in scoring and 19th in rebounding. He is averaging 20.6 points and 5.8 boards per game in MIAA play. He had his third 30 point game of the year with 32 points and seven rebounds against Central Oklahoma. He was ten of 13 from the free throw line and ended with 16 points at Northeastern State. He had 21 points and a career high eight assists against Pittsburg State. He scored 33 points with a career high 15 rebounds against Central Missouri. He scored 28 points with 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 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 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 27 points against Fresno Pacific. 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.

WE WANT MOORE
Guard Terrence Moore (So./Wichita, Kan.) leads the MIAA and is 23rd in the nation in steals per game and is eighth in the country in total steals. He is 15th in the MIAA in scoring.  He is averaging 17.7 points per game and shooting 56.6% from the field in MIAA contests. He had 21 points, six boards, four assists and three steals against Central Oklahoma. He scored 17 points on five of six shooting with five rebounds at Northeastern State. He had 19 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists and two steals against Pittsburg State. He had 19 points with five assists against Central Missouri. He scored 20 points on nine of 11 shooting against Missouri Western. 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 had a career high six steals against Newman. 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.

BIG PAUL
Center Paul Bunch (Sr./Chicago, Ill.) leads the MIAA, is ranked fourth in the nation in blocked shots per game. He is second in the MIAA in field goal percentage and ranked 13th in rebounding. He had 14 points on six of eight shooting with eight rebounds against Central Oklahoma. He was five of six from the field and finished with 11 points and eight rebounds at Northeastern State. 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 131 blocks in 40 games with the Hornets.

BROWN AND SERVE
Forward Gavin Brown (Sr./Junction City, Kan.) is ranked tenth in the MIAA in rebounding. He recorded a double-double with ten points and 11 rebounds against Pittsburg State. He scored 12 points with six rebounds and three assists against Central Missouri. 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 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.
 
HE'S SWANKY
Guard Micah Swank (So./Pratt, Kan.) is ranked fifth in the MIAA in assist to turnover ratio, 13th in steals, and 14th in assists. He is expected to miss several games after taking an elbow to the face during practice prior to the Pittsburg State. He had six assists against Central Missouri. 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.  

JORDANAIRRE
Guard Tyler Jordan (Fr./Ballwin, Mo.) had eight points and four assists against Central Oklahoma. He scored eight points at Northeastern State. He had six rebounds against Pittsburg State in his second career start. He 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.   

TAYLOR MADE
Guard Jevon Taylor (Fr./Denver, Colo.) is third in the MIAA in three point field goal percentage. He scored seven points against Central Missouri, hitting one of two three-point attempts. 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.

SHARE THE WISDOM
Center McWisdom Badejo (So./Dallas, Texas) is shooting 74.3% from the field, going 26 of 35 on the year. He scored six points on three of three shooting against Central Oklahoma. 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.) scored six points at Northeastern State. He was eight for eight from the free throw line against Pittsburg State. He returned to action against Central Missouri after missing three games with an injury and scored nine points on two of three shooting from the three-point line. 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.

TEMAAT MIGHT
Guard Jay Temaat (Fr./Lenexa, Kan.) scored 12 points, going three of four from the three-point arc and three of three from the free throw line against Pittsburg State. He is shooting 85.7% 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.

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.

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
On February 22, All-American Dale Cushinberry will join the five Hornets who 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.