November 3, 2017-Emporia State used an 8-2 run at the start of the second half to cut the lead to ten, but Kansas State was able to pull away for a 77-44 win at Bramlage Coliseum on Friday night in Manhattan, Kan.
The Wildcats jumped out to an 11-2 lead to start the game and would never trail. The Hornets cut the lead to 13-8 on a lay up by Duncan Fort with 9:15 left but K-State answered with a 7-1 run to take an 11 point lead with 6:48 left. The Wildcats took a 17 point lead with 2:31 left before settling into a 37-21 lead at the break.
Brandon Hall got the Hornets started in the second half with a layup off the inbounds play. After a Kamau Stokes jumper for K-State, Emporia State took advantage of back to back steals by Brian Morton and Grant Shell that led to fast break layups by Vandiver and Hall followed by another layup from Morton to cut the lead to 39-29. Dean Wade scored the next five points of the game for the Wildcats to put them back up by 15 points. A Vandiver three cut the lead to 46-33 with 13:22 left before the Wildcats blew the game open with a 20-4 run over the next nine minutes.Â
A pair of free throws from Levi Stockard III with 1:15 remaining gave the Wildcats their biggest lead of the game at 77-42. Stephaun Limuel got a steal and layup with 55 seconds left for the final margin.
Vandiver led Emporia State with 15 points and was the only Hornet in double figures. Limuel had six points and a team high five rebounds before fouling out.
The Hornets have one more exhibition game before the regular season on Sunday at Iowa State. Tip-off from Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa is set for 5:00 p.m.
