Men's Basketball | 1/31/2014 10:48:00 PM
Game #22
Emporia State Hornets (14-7, 7-4 MIAA )
at Neb.-Kearney Lopers (8-10, 4-7 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 • 3:30 p.m. • Kearney, Neb. • Health & Sports Center (5,600)
Series Record: UNK leads 18-14 Last Meeting: at UNK 81, ESU 58 (Jan. 30, 2013)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (3:40 p.m. pregame) Internet Audio: kvoe.com
Television: None Internet Video: americaonesports.com ($8)
Up Next: at Washburn • Feb. 5, 2014 • 7:30 p.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena (3,900)
MEGA SWEEPSTAKES
Emporia State hits the road to Neb.-Kearney. It is the second straight year the Hornets have travelled to Kearney after a 20 hiatus.
LAST TIME OUT
For the third time in the last four meetings Emporia State and Ft. Hays State went to overtime as the #24 Tigers escaped with a 99-92 victory. Emporia State took a 37-33 lead into the locker room and would build a ten point lead at 54-44 with 12:51 left. The Tigers tied the score at 62 with 6:36 left. Kaleb Wright drained a three from the corner with :18.0 left to put the Hornets up 71-69. Craig Nicholson tied it for FHSU with :11.4 left but missed the free throw. The teams bounced back and forth through the first extra frame as the teams headed to a second overtime tied at 81. The Tigers went up two possessions with :49.8 left and hit four of four free throws in the final :30.7 to secure the win. Wright had 30 points, eight rebounds and three assists to lead four Hornets in double figures. Bunch had a double double with 22 points and ten rebounds while Terrence Moore added 20 points.
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 36-39 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 0-1 against Neb.-Kearney.
UNK employs a unique co-head coach system. Tom Kropp is 457-232 in his 18th year at Neb.-Kearney while Kevin Lofton is 131-112 in his ninth year. They are 0-1 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State has won six of their last eight games. They are led by Kaleb Wright at 19.2 points per game. Terrence Moore is averaging 15.7 points and leads the MIAA in steals, Paul Bunch leads the league in blocked shots. Wright is ranked fourth in the MIAA in scoring.
ABOUT THE LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney is 8-10 on the season, 4-7 in the MIAA after beating Washburn on Wednesday night. They have five players averaging in double figures led by Connor Beranek at 18.2 points per game overall and 19.4 in MIAA contests.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 33rd meeting between the two teams with Nebraska-Kearney holding an 18-14 lead. This is the second time the Hornets and Lopers have met as MIAA members with the previous 31 meetings coming in the CSIC.
LAST TIME VS. NEB.-KEARNEY
For just the second time last season the Emporia State men were outscored from the field in an 81-58 loss at Nebraska-Kearney. The game was tied at 6-6 when UNK went on an 8-0 to take the lead for good. The Hornets were out-scored 43-29 in the second half as they shot just .303 from the field after intermission. Paul Bunch led Emporia State with 12 points and added six rebounds and a career high seven blocked shots. He was joined in double figures by Kaleb Wright and Tre Boutilier with ten points each.
UP NEXT
The Hornets travel to Topeka on Wednesday to take on Washburn in the first edition of the Turnpike Tussle. Tip-off on February 5 from Lee Arena is set for 7:30 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 75.4 points per game on 44.3% 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 64 on the year. Terrence Moore is ranked first in the MIAA and 23rd in the nation in steals per game and is eighth with 50 total steals.
THE WRIGHT STUFF
Guard Kaleb Wright (Sr./Chicago, Ill.) is ranked fourth in the MIAA in scoring, 15th in free throw percentage and 18th in rebounding. He is averaging 21.5 points and 6.0 boards per game in MIAA play. He had his fourth 30 point game of the year with 30 points and eight rebounds at Ft. Hays State. He is the first Hornet since DeAndre Townsend in 2007-08 to have four 30 point games in a season. He had 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 13th in the MIAA in scoring. He is averaging 17.9 points per game and shooting 58.2% from the field in MIAA contests. He scored 20 points on seven of nine shooting at Ft. Hays State. 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 third in the MIAA in field goal percentage and ranked 13th in rebounding. He scored a season high 22 points with ten rebounds at Ft. Hays State. 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 132 blocks in 41 games with the Hornets.
BROWN AND SERVE
Forward Gavin Brown (Sr./Junction City, Kan.) is ranked tenth in the MIAA in rebounding. He had a team high six assists at Ft. Hays State. 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 sixth in the MIAA in assist to turnover ratio, 14th in steals, and 15th in assists. He had three assists at Ft. Hays State in his first action since 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.) scored ten points with seven rebounds at Ft. Hays State. He 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 71.1% from the field, going 27 of 38 on the year. He had four rebounds at Ft. Hays Stae. 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.
