EMPORIA STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL BEGINS MIAA TOURNEY AT LINCOLN

Game #29
Emporia State Hornets (13-15, 10-12 MIAA)
at Lincoln Blue Tigers (15-13, 11-11 MIAA)
Series Record: ESU leads 16-7 Last Meeting: at LU 76, ESU 70 (Feb. 13, 2016)
Tuesday, March 1, 2016 • 7:00 p.m. • Jefferson City, Mo. • Jason Gym (1,538)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (6:40 p.m.) Internet Audio: kvoe.com
Television: None Internet Video: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/esu/
Live Stats  Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: winner vs. Neb.-Kearney • March 4, 2016 • 2:15 p.m. • Kansas City, Mo. • Municipal Auditorium (9,987)

TOURNEY TIME  
After a one year hiatus, Emporia State returns to the MIAA Tournament as they travel to Lincoln for a first round game. It is the first postseason appearance for the Blue Tigers since 1987.

LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets fell 86-76 to Washburn on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods jumped out to a 6-2 lead before Emporia State answered with a 7-2 run of their own to take a 9-8 lead with 16:10 left. The Hornets used an 8-2 run to tie the score at 50 with 13:11 left on a Terrence Moore lay up. A Jevon Taylor three pointer made it 64-63 Washburn with 7:34 left. The Ichabods then went on an 8-0 run to take control of the game as they led 72-63 with 5:24 left. They would hit 10 of 11 free throws in the final 3:48 to ice the win. Terrence Moore led Emporia State with 20 points, four steals, and three assists as he led four Hornets in double figures. Josh Pederson had 15 points shooting five for seven from the stripe. Kevin Allen and Micah Swank each had ten points, while Allen had his second double-double with ten rebounds.

THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 65-76 in his fifth season at Emporia State. A first round draft pick by the Golden State Warriors in 1991 he 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 1-3 in the MIAA Tournament. He is 5-2 against Lincoln.
John Moseley is 19-37 in his second year at Lincoln. This is his first MIAA Tournament game. He is 2-1 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets are 13-15, 10-12 in the MIAA and are the #10 seed in the tournament. Terrence Moore is the leading scorer on the season at 16.3 points per game. He one of the top five career scorers at Emporia State and is the MIAA's active steals leader. Kevin Allen is averaging 14.8 points and 10.0 rebounds over the last five games. ESU is 6-17 all-time in MIAA Tournament play.

ABOUT THE BLUE TIGERS
Lincoln is 15-13 on the year, 11-11 in the MIAA and the #7 seed in the tournament. They are 11-2 in Jason Gym, getting overtime wins in their last two games. They are led by Anthony Virdure at 21.8 points and Jaylon Smith at 18.1 points per game. The Blue Tigers are 3-3 all-time in the MIAA Tournament.

THE SERIES    
This is the 24th meeting between the two with Emporia State holding a 16-7 overall advantage. This is their first MIAA Tourney meeting.

LAST TIME VS. LINCOLN    
In a game that saw eight ties and six lead changes, Emporia State could not come up with a final push in a 76-70 loss at Lincoln. Terrence Moore led Emporia State with 24 points and was joined in double figures by Kevin Allen with 13 points. The Hornets shot 55.2% from the field but were just seven of 12 from the free throw line. Lincoln shot 41.2% from the field but capitalized at the line, hitting 27 of 35 charities.

UP NEXT
The winner will play #2 seed Neb.-Kearney at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, March 4 in Municipal Auditorium.

AT THE MIAA TOURNAMENT
Emporia State is 6-17 overall in MIAA Tournament play with five of the six wins coming as a lower seeded team. The Hornets are 5-11 in Municipal Auditorium and became the first eight seed to advance to the tournament championship game with an 83-79 win over Southwest Baptist in 2008.  The Hornets are 0-5 in MIAA road games with all of them coming in the quarterfinals prior to 2000.    

WE WANT MOORE
Guard Terrence Moore (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) is second in the MIAA in steals, seventh in assist to turnover ratio, tenth in scoring and assists, and 13th in field goal percentage. He had 20 points and four steals against Washburn. He scored 19 points with five assists and three steals at Northwest Missouri. He scored 14 points with five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals against Central Oklahoma. He had 24 points and five steals at Lincoln. He scored 23 points against Southwest Baptist. He had 17 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and four steals against Pittsburg State. He scored 25 points and dished six assists against Missouri Southern. He had 15 points and six rebounds at Washburn. He had 18 points with seven rebounds and six assists against Missouri Western. He scored 24 points against Northwest Missouri. He scored 25 points at Central Oklahoma. He scored 12 points with five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks against Lindenwood. He had 21 points at Missouri Southern. He scored 14 points with six assists against Central Missouri. He had 15 points, four assists and three steals at Ft. Hays State. He had 16 points, seven assists and six steals against Northwestern Oklahoma. He had nine points and five rebounds in the exhibition game at Wichita State. He had 22 points, including a four of six effort from behind the three point line against Southwest Minnesota State. He scored 21 points with six rebounds, three assists and two steals against Sioux Falls.
He was a third-team All-MIAA selection last year after leading the MIAA in steals and ranking fourth in the league in scoring. He scored 24 points against Pittsburg State. He had 21 points at Washburn. He had 17 points at Ft. Hays State with three steals. He had 27 points and five rebounds against Neb.-Kearney. He had six steals against Ft. Hays State. He had 11 points and nine rebounds at Central Oklahoma. He had 38 points at Central Missouri and 17 points with four steals at Mo. Western. He scored 25 points with six rebounds and four steals against Lindenwood. He had 20 points and assists against Lincoln. He had 17 points and four rebounds against Northwest Missouri. He was the MVP of the Pak-A-Sak Classic after recording 22 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals against West Texas A&M. He had 20 points at Northwestern Oklahoma. He led Emporia State with 21 points against Concordia-St. Paul and 24 in against St. Cloud State.
He was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick and member of the  MIAA All-Defensive Team as a sophomore. He scored a career high 40 points against Southwest Baptist in the 2014 MIAA Tournament first round game that is ranked third all-time in single game tournament scoring. He had a career high ten rebounds against Ft. Hays State in White Auditorium to go with 12 points. He scored 28 points at Washburn and added four steals. 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 had 27 points and seven rebounds against Missouri Southern. He had 17 points in and exhibition win over UMKC and 15 points at Wichita State.
He scored 10 points off the bench with a team high three steals at Kansas as a freshman.
He has 1,617 points in 111 career games to rank fifth on the Emporia State career list. He ranks second at Emporia State and is the MIAA's active leader in steals with 229 while ranking fifth in NCAA Division II among active players. He is the conference's second ranked active scoring leader and ranked 20th in Division II.

HE'S SWANKY
Guard Micah Swank (Sr./Pratt, Kan.) had ten points with four rebounds and three assists against Washburn. He scored 11 points and was three of four from three-point range at Northwest Missouri. He hit three three-pointers against Central Oklahoma. He had eight points and eight assists against Pittsburg State. He had seven points and six assists against Missouri Southern. He scored 11 points and hit three three-pointers at Southwest Baptist. He missed his first start in 49 games against Northwest Missouri with a broken finger. He scored 11 points with six rebounds against Lincoln. He scored eight points with six rebounds, three assists and two steals at West Texas. He had 14 points on four of six shooting against Northwestern Oklahoma.
He averaged 11.3 points and 4.2 rebounds over his last 12 games of last year. He had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists against Northeastern State. He had ten points and five rebounds at Ft. Hays State. He scored 12 points against Washburn. He tied his career high with six rebounds and added 11 points against Ft. Hays State. He scored 19 points at Northeastern State and hit five three-pointers. He had eight assists against Rockhurst.
As a sophomore he had 11 points and five assists against Neb.-Kearney in White Auditorium. He scored 15 points including a nine of nine performance at the free throw line at Lincoln. He had 16 first half points and ended with 18 against Southwest Baptist. He scored 11 points with three steals at Alaska. He had seven boards at Oklahoma State.
He has scored 641 points in 109 career games.  

ALLENTOWN
Forward Kevin Allen (Sr./Ecorse, Mich.) is shooting .622 from the field on the season.  He is averaging 14.8 points on .721 shooting from the field and 10.0 rebounds per game over the last five games. He had ten points and ten rebounds against Washburn. He had 18 points and nine boards at Northwest Missouri. He had 11 boards against Northeastern State. He erupted for 27 points and 14 rebounds against Central Oklahoma on 11 of 13 shooting from the field. He scored 13 points with six rebounds and two blocks at Lincoln. He had four points and four boards against Pittsburg State. He scored eight points on four of six shooting against Missouri Southern. He had nine points and seven rebounds at Central Missouri. He scored eight points with six rebounds and two blocks at Washburn. He had six points and five rebounds in 11 minutes against Northwest Missouri. He scored nine points and had two blocks at Central Oklahoma. He had 12 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes against Rockhurst. He played 12 minutes at Ft. Hays State, but missed eight of the first ten games with an ankle injury. He made his regular season debut at Neb.-Kearney and had two points in eight minutes. He led Emporia State with seven points and seven rebounds at Kansas State.
He played in 21 games at Boise State last year with three starts.  He averaged 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks as a sophomore for Pratt CC as they advanced to the NJCAA Tourney.
 
CHARLES IN CHARGE
Forward Charles McKinney (Sr./Evanston, Ill.) is eighth in the MIAA in steals and 14th in blocked shots. He scored a career high 20 points against Northeastern State. He had 13 points and three steals against Southwest Baptist. He scored 12 points on six of seven shooting against Pittsburg State. He had 17 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes against Missouri Southern. He had 16 points on five of seven shooting at Southwest Baptist. He scored ten points with six rebounds at Washburn. He had 13 points and six rebounds off the bench against Northwest Missouri. He had 14 points with four rebounds, two blocks and two assists at Northeastern State. He scored 15 points on five of eight shooting from the field and a five of five effort from the free throw line at Central Oklahoma. He had 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and three sterals against Lincoln. He had ten points and four rebounds at Missouri Southern. He scored 11 points on five of seven shooting from the field to go with five rebounds and five assists against Central Missouri. He had 12 points, three steals, and three rebounds at Ft. Hays State. He had four steals at Neb.-Kearney. He had 13 points with three steals at West Texas A&M. He had 19 points with eight rebounds, four blocks and three steals against Eastern New Mexico. He scored 11 points on five of six shooting from the field against Northwestern Oklahoma. He had ten points and a team high three steals at Wichita State.  He had six points and four rebounds at Kansas State.
He averaged 4.5 points and 1.0 steals in 89 games with 49 starts for DePaul.  
 
THE BENTLEY OF BICYCLES
Forward Josh Pedersen (Jr./Overland Park, Kan.) is averaging 7.9 points and shooting .417 (10 of 24) from behind the three-point line since moving into the starting line-up eight games ago.  He scored 15 points with three rebounds against Washburn. He had nine points and seven boards against Northeastern State. He scored eight points against Pittsburg State. He was six of six from the free throw line at Southwest Baptist. He had two blocks and two steals against Lindenwood. He had five rebounds against Lincoln in White Auditorium. He scored six points at Pittsburg State. He had four points, four rebounds and two blocks against Central Missouri. He had a career high 23 points on eight of ten shooting from the field including a perfect three of three from beyond the arc at Ft. Hays State. He was named to the All-Tournament team at the Pak-A-Sak Classic after scoring 15 points with four rebounds against West Texas A&M.
He made 21 straight free throws from the Lindenwood game on Jan. 5, 2015 through the final game of the year against Pittsburg State last season. He had 11 points and four rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. He had a career high nine rebounds against Washburn. He had 11 points and seven rebounds at Mo. Southern. He had 12 points with seven rebounds against McPherson. He had 11 points at Southwest Baptist. He had eight points, five rebounds and four assists against Eastern New Mexico. He had 15 points and six rebounds at Newman.
As a freshman he scored nine points with five rebounds at Central Oklahoma. He was eight for eight from the free throw line against Pittsburg State. He scored a then career high 12 points against Newman and twice tied the score on a pair of free throws in the final three minutes.
 
KID IN THE HALL
Guard Brandon Hall (Fr.-RS/Arlington, Texas) had five points at Northwest Missouri after missing the previous two games with a shoulder injury. He had six points and three assists at Lincoln. He scored 15 points off the bench against Missouri Southern after starting the previous five games. He scored ten points and had four assists at Washburn. He scored six points and was four of five from the free throw line in his first start against Northwest Missouri. He scored 13 points at Central Oklahoma. He had eight points and six rebounds against Central Missouri. He had 19 points and a career high seven assists at Neb.-Kearney. He scored 18 points on nine of 13 shooting at West Texas A&M.  He had 15 points and hit nine of 11 free throws against Eastern New Mexico. He had nine points and four rebounds against Northwestern Oklahoma. He was eight of 13 from the field, two of three from behind the arc, for 23 points against Southwest Minnesota.  He scored 17 points, all in the second half, with two assists in his Hornet debut against Sioux Falls.
He is ranked eighth in freshman scoring at Emporia State with 224 points.
He was a first-team All-District performer at Bowie HS before redshirting last year for the Hornets.

TAYLOR MADE
Guard Jevon Taylor (Jr./Denver, Colo.) scored ten points in 13 minutes against Northeastern State. He hit three of four three-pointers for 11 points against Pittsburg State. He scored nine points at Central Oklahoma. He had ten points against Lindenwood. He scored a season high 12 points and was three of nine from the three point line against Lincoln. In the first nine games of the regular season he was just two of 15 from the field and one of 11 from the three-point line for seven points.  Since then he has gone 25 of 60 (.416) from behind the arc. He had six points and was four of four from the line at Kansas State.
He was seventh in the MIAA in three-point percentage and eighth in the league in made three-pointers last season. He scored 11 points, including back to back three-pointers that gave Emporia State the lead in the first half at Neb.-Kearney. He had 11 points at Ft. Hays State. He had 12 points and a career high six rebounds against Neb.-Kearney. He had a team high 13 points at Pittsburg State. He matched his career high with 20 points on five of six shooting from the arc at Central Missouri. He was six of eight from behind the three point line for 18 points against Sterling. He was five of eight from beyond the arc against McPherson for 17 points. He had a team high 14 points at Southwest Baptist and was nine of nine from the free throw line. He scored 17 points and was five of eight from the three-point line against Rockhurst. He had 13 points on five of seven shooting against Northwest Missouri. He was four of five from the field for 14 points against West Texas A&M. He scored 14 points and was five of eight from the field at Newman. He scored 11 points off the bench against St. Cloud State.
He scored 19 points with four made three-pointers in his first career start at Lincoln as a freshman. He scored a then 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.  

JORDANAIRRE
Guard Tyler Jordan (Jr./Ballwin, Mo.) had a season high 13 points on four of seven shooting and added two assists, a block and a steal against Northeastern State. He had four points and four rebounds in a then season high 15 minutes against Northwest Missouri. He scored five points in two minutes against Lincoln. He hit the only three pointer he took at Pitt State. He played a then season high eight minutes at Missouri Southern and hit one of two shots. He scored his first points of the year at Neb.-Kearney.
He had eight points, four rebounds and three assists at Central Oklahoma last season. He scored a career high 15 points with eight rebounds, and three assists against Sterling. He scored 11 points at Missouri Southern. He had a career high 11 rebounds at Southwest Baptist. He had a team high six rebounds against Northwest Missouri. He scored ten points against Eastern New Mexico.
As a freshman he scored ten points with seven rebounds at Ft. Hays State. He scored 11 points on four of five shooting with three assists at Northwest Missouri. He dished a career high seven assists and had five rebounds against McPherson. He had seven points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the exhibition game at Oklahoma State as a freshman.

TEMAAT MIGHT
Guard Jay Temaat (Jr./Lenexa, Kan.) scored eight points at Lincoln. He was three of four from behind the three-point line against Southwest Baptist. He matched his career high with four assists for the second straight game against Pittsburg State. He scored nine points against Missouri Western. He had eight points and five rebounds at Northeastern State. He scored 11 points against Lindenwood. He scored 14 points against Central Missouri. He scored 12 points with four rebounds and three assists at West Texas A&M. He had 14 points on five of seven shooting with four assists against Northwestern Oklahoma. He had 11 points and was three of seven from behind the arc against Sioux Falls.
He was 13th in the MIAA in made three-pointers last season. He was four of six from the three-point line for 12 points at Neb.-Kearney. He had 20 points on five of seven shooting against Central Oklahoma. He scored 14 points, including the game winner at the buzzer to go with a career high seven rebounds against Washburn. He had a career high 21 points on seven of ten shooting from behind the three point line against Rockhurst. He scored a career high 21 points against Eastern New Mexico. He scored 13 points and dished three assists at Northwestern Oklahoma. He led all scorers with 16 points off the bench at Kansas.
As a freshman he 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 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, hitting three three pointers against the Cowboys.

WINDY CITY WILDMAN
Forward Terrence Sardin (Jr./Chicago, Ill.) pulled four rebounds in eight minutes against Northeastern State. He had three points and two rebounds at Lincoln. He had three rebounds at Central Oklahoma. He had four points in six minutes against Rockhurst. He was two for two from the field at Missouri Southern. He had two points and four fouls in six minutes against Central Missouri. He scored four points and had two blocks at Ft. Hays State. He had eight points and three rebounds in ten minutes off the bench against Eastern New Mexico. He got the start in the exhibition game at Wichita State and scored six points on three of four shooting from the field with a blocked shot.
He was ranked 13th in the MIAA in blocked shots last year. He had three rebounds and two blocks in 17 minutes at Central Oklahoma. He pulled six rebounds at Pittsburg State. He tied his career high with ten points against Lincoln. He had a career high eight rebounds at Mo. Southern. He had four points and a then career high seven rebounds at Southwest Baptist. He had a career high four steals against West Texas A&M.  He pulled five rebounds and blocked two shots against Eastern New Mexico. He had a career high ten points and six rebounds at Northwestern Oklahoma. He led Emporia State with a game high nine rebounds against Kansas and scored four points.
He had a career high four blocked shots against Neb.-Kearney as a freshman.

SPENCER'S GIFT
Forward Devin Spencer (Jr./Raytown, Mo.) had two rebounds in three minutes against Washburn. He scored five points with three rebounds and a block at Northwest Missouri. He had four points and four rebounds against Northeastern State. He scored four points with four rebounds at Lincoln. He had three rebounds at Central Missouri. He scored four points on two dunks at Washburn. He scored six points with three rebounds and two blocks against Missouri Western in 13 minutes. He had three blocks and tip dunk against Northwest Missouri. He saw his first action at Missouri Southern after sitting out the last two semesters as part of the intra-conference transfer rule. He scored two points with two rebounds against the Lions.
He transferred to Emporia State from Missouri Southern last year at the semester.  He played in 18 games in a year and a half for the Lions.

NOTHING RUNS LIKE A DEERE
Guard Adrian Deere (Fr.-RS/Chicago, Ill.) was two for two from the field for five points against Pitt State. He hit his first three-pointer at Washburn. He had two rebounds and an assist against Northwest Missouri. His defense in the second half helped hold Justin Pitts to just eight second half points after he scored 18 in the first half. He scored two points at Ft. Hays State. He made his Emporia State debut against Eastern New Mexico after redshirting last season. He averaged 17.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.1 assists per game at Warren Township HS as a senior.

BIG FISH
Forward Bradley Fisher (So./Chorley, England) had two rebounds against Northeastern State. He pulled three rebounds in four minutes at Pittsburg State. He had two rebounds and a block at Missouri Southern. He scored four points with two blocks against Central Missouri. He scored four points with three rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. He had three rebounds in nine minutes against Northwestern Oklahoma. He has started ten of 13 games but is averaging just 6.9 minutes per game.
He is a 7-0 transfer from Montana State. He played in 11 games with one start for the Bobcats.
 
CAPTAIN MORGAN
Forward Sam Morgan (So./White City, Kan.) pulled two rebounds in two minutes against Northeastern State. He made his season debut against West Texas A&M and scored two points with two rebounds in 21 minutes.
He scored three points with three rebounds at Washburn last season.  He had a rebound and an assist at Neb.-Kearney.
He earned third-team All-State honors in Class 3A from the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association.  He is the younger brother of former Hornet Mark Morgan.

G'DAY
Forward Josh Oswald (Jr./Melbourne, Australia) has returned to Australia to be with his father who is suffering from heart disease and will not return this season.  He had 11 points and seven rebounds against Southwest Baptist. He was five of six from the floor for ten points against Pitt State. He scored ten points against Missouri Southern. He scored 11 points with nine rebounds at Southwest Baptist. He had 13 points against Rockhurst. He scored 19 points with eight boards and three assists at Pittsburg State. He had 11 points and ten boards against Central Missouri. He had 19 points on seven of 13 shooting at Neb.-Kearney. He had 14 points and seven rebounds against Eastern New Mexico. He scored ten points with five rebounds against Northwestern Oklahoma. He had a team high 16 points on six of ten shooting to go with four rebounds and two steals against Wichita State in exhibition action. He scored ten points with seven rebounds against Southwest Minnesota.  He had a double double in his first game as a Hornet with 11 points and ten rebounds against Sioux Falls.
He played in 43 games with 19 starts for Miami (Ohio) and averaged 3.6 points and 2.4 rebounds over his two years at Miami.

FRIENDLY CONFINES
Emporia State has won 143 of their last 192 games (.745) in White Auditorium. Thirty-three of the 49 losses have been by less than ten points. The have won 11 straight regular season non-conference home games. The Hornets are 365-162 (.693) since 1979 in White Auditorium. The Hornets have had 12 winning home records in the past 13 years in White Auditorium.  

HISTORIC START
For the first time in their 25 years as members of the MIAA, Emporia State opened conference play with two road wins. Their four road wins in conference are tied for the third most road wins in 25 years of MIAA membership. The win at Neb.-Kearney was the first win in an MIAA opener since an 86-81 win at Northwest Missouri to begin the 2009-10 conference season.  It was just the ninth time in 25 seasons that the Hornets have begun conference play at least 2-0 and the previous eight all had at least one home game in the first two played. It was the first time Emporia State opened conference play 2-0 since going 3-0 against Northwest Missouri, Missouri Western and Neb.-Omaha in White Auditorium to open the 2010-11 MIAA schedule. The best start to MIAA play for the Hornets came in 2006-07 as they won their first seven conference games on the way to a 16-0 start to the season. The Hornets lost their first three MIAA home games for the first time since going 0-9 in conference play at White Auditorium in 2000-01.  

HORNETS RANK IN NATION IN ATTENDANCE
The Emporia State men's basketball team should continue a string of 14 straight years ranking in the top 25 in attendance among the over 300 NCAA Division II basketball playing schools. The Hornets averaged 1,586 fans to 13 home games and are ranked 17th nationally heading into the post season. Last season the Hornets drew an average of 1,659 fans to their 12 home games at Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium during the 2014-15 season to rank 15th nationally. Emporia State outdrew 110 NCAA Division I schools during the 2014-15 school year, including two that made the NCAA Tournament and two that participated in the NIT Postseason Tournament. As a conference the MIAA drew 293,630 fans to the 194 games to lead all Division II conference in average attendance at 1,514 fans per game last year. The MIAA's total attendance was better than ten NCAA Division I conferences.

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, 2014 after the City of Emporia approved a proclamation at their Feb. 20 city commission meeting.

IN THE RAFTERS
On February 22, 2014 All-American Dale Cushinberry (1966-69) joined the five Hornets who have had their jersey's retired to the wall of White Auditorium. He was an All-American for Emporia State and became the first Hornet with 1,000 points and 700 rebounds.
•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.