Games #1&2
Emporia State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Sioux Falls Cougars (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Series Record: ESU leads 2-1 Last Meeting: ESU 101, USF 94 (Nov. 12, 2016)
Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 • 7:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium (5,000)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM Internet (Audio):
www.kvoe.com Internet (Video):
themiaanetwork.com
Live Stats •
Ticket Info •
Complete Notes in pdf
vs. #15 Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Series Record: SWMSU leads 3-1 Last Meeting: SWMSU 77, ESU 74 (Nov. 13, 2016)
Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 • 7:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium (5,000)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM Internet (Audio):
www.kvoe.com Internet (Video):
themiaanetwork.com
Live Stats •
Ticket Info •
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Kansas Wesleyan • Nov. 16, 2017 • 7:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium
OPENING AT HOME FOR REAL
Emporia State begins their 115th season of intercollegiate basketball by hosting the MIAA-NSIC Challenge. The Hornets and Ft. Hays State will take on Sioux Falls and #15 Southwest Minnesota over two days this weekend. This is the first time Emporia State has opened the season at home since 2011.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State closed to within two points of Iowa State midway through the second half before eventually falling 77-68 on Sunday. The Cyclones used a 9-0 run to 50-35 lead with 12:13 remaining. Emporia State responded with a 14-1 run over the next 3:12 to pull within two at 51-49 9:01 left. Iowa State pushed the lead back to double digits with an 11-2 run to take a 62-51 lead with 5:56 left. Grant Shell had 11 points and Hassan Thomas scored ten as ten Hornets scored at least three points. Brian Morton and Stephaun Limuel each had six rebounds to lead the Hornets, who outrebounded the Cyclones 36-33 on the night.
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 78-93 in his seventh 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 had 17 points and nine rebounds in an 84-78 win at Iowa State that snapped a 56 game road losing streak in the Big 8 for the Buffaloes. He is 1-1 against both Sioux Falls and 0-1 against Southwest Minnesota State.
Chris Johnson is 156-122 in his tenth year at Sioux Falls and 172-137 in his 11th year as a head coach. He is 1-1 against Emporia State.
Brad Bigler is 136-101 in his ninth year at Southwest Minn. He is 2-0 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State was 13-16, 9-10 in the MIAA last season. They are set to return six players including second-team All-MIAA performer Brandon Hall. He was the leading scorer at 13.7 points per game last season. Garin Vandiver led the Hornets in scoring during the exhibition games at 11.5 points per game.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
Sioux Falls was 15-17 last year and went 10-12 in the NSIC. They return three starters from last year led by junior forward Drew Guebert who averaged 15.5 points a year ago.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the fourth meeting between Sioux Falls and Emporia State with the Hornets leading 2-1.
LAST TIME VS USF
Brandon Hall scored 23 points to lead five Hornets in double figures in Emporia State's 101-94 victory at Sioux Falls to open last season.
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
Southwest Minn. was 28-6 last year and went 17-5 in the NSIC. They advanced to the regional final before falling 55-52 at Northwest Missouri. Guard Ryan Bruggeman averaged 15.0 per game last season
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the fifth meeting between Southwest Minnesota and Emporia State with the Mustangs leading 3-1.
LAST TIME VS SWMSU
A day after hitting eight three-pointers in a win over Sioux Falls, Emporia State went just one of ten from behind the three point line in a 77-74 loss to Southwest Minnesota.
UP NEXT
The Hornets play host to Kansas Wesleyan on Thursday, November 16. Tip from Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium is set for 7:00 p.m.
FRIENDLY CONFINES
Emporia State has won 152 of their last 205 games (.741) in White Auditorium. Thirty-six of the 53 losses have been by less than ten points. They have won 14 straight regular season non-conference home games. The Hornets are 374-166 (.693) since 1979 in White Auditorium. The Hornets have had 13 winning home records in the past 14 years in White Auditorium. Emporia State has won 17 of the last 18 home openers in White Auditorium, with the lone loss coming to Northwest Missouri in 2014-15.
KID IN THE HALL
Guard Brandon Hall (Jr./Arlington, Texas) is in his fourth year with the Hornets and earned second-team All-MIAA honors last season. He only took three shots at Iowa State in 16 minutes of action. He had six points and three rebounds at Kansas State.
He was fifth in the MIAA in assists and assist to turnover ratio, was 13th in scoring and 14th in field goal percentage last year. He scored 22 points against Central Oklahoma. He had 17 points and four assists against Southwest Baptist. He scored 21 points with eight assists at Missouri Western. He tied his career high with 23 points against Neb.-Kearney. He had his first career double-double with 12 points and a career high ten assists against Ft. Hays State. He had 12 points at Northeastern State. He scored 13 points at Central Oklahoma. He had 21 points, six assists and hit a game winning three-pointer at the buzzer against Washburn. He scored 16 points with seven rebounds and six assists against Kansas Wesleyan. He had 17 points and seven rebounds against Lindenwood. He scored 20 points with five assists against Lincoln. He had 18 points and five assists at Ft. Hays State. He had 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists against Central Christian. He scored 18 points with nine rebounds, and seven assists against Missouri S&T. He had 17 points with five rebounds at Drury. He had 15 points and four assists against Rockhurst. He had 18 points at Sioux Falls. He scored 23 points against Southwest Minnesota State. He had nine points and six assists at Kansas with no turnovers in exhibition play.
As a redshirt freshman last year he scored 15 points against Missouri Southern. 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 19 points and 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 was eight of 13 from the field for 23 points against Southwest Minnesota. He scored 17 points, all in the second half, against Sioux Falls.
He is ranked eighth in freshman scoring at Emporia State with 234 points.
He was a first-team All-District performer at Bowie HS before redshirting for the Hornets.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Forward Garin Vandiver (Sr./Emporia, Kan.) is in his second year with the Hornets. He had eight points, five rebounds and two steals at Iowa State. He was the leading scorer for the Hornets at Kansas State with 15 points with three three-pointers.
He was sixth in the MIAA in offensive rebounds and 15th in overall rebounding last year. He pulled eight rebounds against Northeastern State. He scored 11 points with four rebounds in 15 minutes at Missouri Western. He had 11 points and seven rebounds at Northwest Missouri. He scored 15 points with six rebounds against Neb.-Kearney. He had ten points and six boards against Ft. Hays State. He scored 11 points at Southwest Baptist. He had 14 points and five rebounds at Central Missouri. He had career highs of 18 points and 18 rebounds against Missouri Southern. It is the first time a Hornet has had 18 boards in a game since Scott Harkess did it on Dec. 3, 1996 at Northwest Missouri. He scored 12 points with five rebounds at Central Oklahoma. He had ten points and eight boards against Washburn on three of four shooting from the field. He had 13 points with three treys and five rebounds at Ft. Hays State. He had ten points and had four rebounds against Southwest Minnesota. He had 11 points in ten minutes at Sioux Falls. He scored nine points with three rebounds at Kansas.
He averaged 5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game for Neosho CC in 27 games last year. He is the son of Emporia State coach Shaun Vandiver. He is a graduate of Emporia HS.
MORTON MAGIC
Guard Brian Morton (Sr./Lansing, Mich.) is in his second year with the Hornets. He had a team high six rebounds at Iowa State and added six points. He had five points and three rebounds at K-State.
He missed the final two games of last season with an injury. He had eight points, five rebounds and four assists against Neb.-Kearney. He scored 12 points against Ft. Hays State. He scored ten points at Northeastern State. He pulled six rebounds and scored five points against Lindenwood. He had eight points and six rebounds at Ft. Hays State. He scored 15 points at Neb.-Kearney. He had nine points and a career high ten rebounds against Central Christian. He scored 22 points with seven rebounds and three steals against Missouri S&T. He had a team high 24 points at Northwestern Oklahoma to go with six assists and three steals. He had 16 points, eight assists and three steals against Kansas Christian. Morton had six points and three assists against Rockhurst. He had 12 points against Southwest Minnesota. He scored 18 points in his Hornet regular season debut at Sioux Falls. He was four of four from the free throw line at Kansas.
He started 25 of 32 games for the Lansing CC Stars last season and averaged 8.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He is a graduate of Lansing Eastern HS.
ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS
Forward Hassan Thomas (Jr./Dallas, Texas) is in his first year with the Hornets. He scored ten points, all in the second half, on four of six shooting from the field at Iowa State. He had three boards at Kansas State.
He played in 28 games over two years at Illinois-Chicago and will have two years remaining.
He was a first-team Class 5A All-State selection in Texas for Woodrow Wilson HS in Dallas, Texas and was a candidate for Texas' 5A Mr. Basketball. He averaged 13 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks per game as a senior.
OUT OF HIS SHELL
Guard Grant Shell (So./Burlington, Kan.) is in his first year at Emporia State. He scored a team high 11 points at Iowa State. He had a team high four assists at K-State.
He played in six games as a freshman at Fresno State in 2015-16 before redshirting last season and will have three years of eligibility left.
He was a two-time all-state selection for Burlington HS, earning Class 4A honors as a junior and Class 3A honors his senior season. He was a three-time all-league honoree for the Wildcats. He averaged 17 points per game as a senior and finished high school No. 1 in his class with a 3.98 GPA.
BETTER WITH LIMES
Forward Stephaun Limuel (Sr./Rosharon, Texas) is in his second year with the Hornets. He had six points and six rebounds off the bench at Iowa State. He had six points and five boards at Kansas State.
He was 13th in the MIAA in offensive rebounds last year. He had career highs 11 rebounds and four assists against Northeastern State. He scored nine points and blocked two shots against Neb.-Kearney. He scored 12 points with six rebounds against Pittsburg State. He had eight rebounds a career high three steals at Northeastern State. He was three for three from the field with two three-pointers and finished with 10 points and seven rebounds against Washburn. He matched his career highs with 16 points and nine rebounds against Kansas Wesleyan. He had three blocked shots at Ft. Hays State. He had six points and six rebounds at Northwestern Oklahoma. He had 16 points, eight rebounds and shot six for eight from the field against Kansas Christian. He had 13 points against Rockhurst with nine rebounds. He had ten points and seven rebounds against Southwest Minnesota. He scored 13 points and pulled eight boards at Sioux Falls.
He started 21 of 28 games for Jacksonville College last year and averaged 10.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He shot .584 from the field for the Jags. He is a graduate of Angleton HS.
FRESH
Forward Jawan Emery (Jr./Overland Park, Kan.) is in his second year with the Hornets. He did not play in the two exhibition games but is expected to play this weekend.
He shot .655 (19 of 29) from the field over his final 12 games last season. He had five points, three rebounds, three steals, a block and an assist against Central Oklahoma. He scored a career high 11 points on four of six shooting form the field against Southwest Baptist. He was three for three from the field for six points against Neb.-Kearney. He scored six points on three of five shooting at Northeastern State. He had seven points on three of four shooting at Ft. Hays State. He scored nine points with two rebounds in his first start against Central Christian. He had six points and seven rebounds against Kansas Christian. He scored four points in five minutes against Southwest Minnesota and had two points at Sioux Falls. He had five points at Kansas.
He averaged 4.5 points in 37 games with seven starts for Hutchinson CC last season. A Blue Valley North HS graduate he helped the Blue Dragons to the NJCAA Championship game last year.
WHO-LUTCH-UH-WEK-EE
Guard Malik Hluchoweckyj (Jr./Omaha, Neb.) is in his first season at Emporia State. He scored eight points at Iowa State. He had a steal and an assist at Kansas State.
He played in 21 games over two years at Bowling Green State and has two years of eligibility left.
He was a two time First-Team Nebraska Super-State selection for Bellevue West HS. He named a Nebraska Associated Press All-State Class A First-Team and a First-Team Super-State selection as a senior.
BUILD THE FORT
Forward Duncan Fort (Fr.-RS/Osage City, Kan.) red-shirted for the Hornets last season. He scored five points with four rebounds at Iowa State. He had seven points and two rebounds at Kansas State.
He had a team high ten points in ten minutes at the exhibition game at Kansas last year.
He was a first-team All-Kansas player for Osage City HS in 2015-16. His father Dennis played at Emporia State from 1985-89.
OVER HILL AND DALE
Guard Jack Dale (Fr.-RS/Tonganoxie, Kan.) red-shirted for Emporia State last season. He scored six points on three of four shooting at Iowa State. He scored three points at K-State.
He was an honorable mention all-state performer at Basehor-Linwood HS as a senior in 2015-16.
HODGE PODGE
Guard Danny Hodge (So./Spring Hill, Kan.) is in his third season with the Hornets and second on the active roster. He had an assist at Kansas State.
He scored six points in five minutes at Washburn. He had ten points against Kansas Christian in his first career start.
He red-shirted his first year at Emporia State after graduating from Spring Hill HS.
SPORTS NIGHT
Guard Isaac McCullough (Fr./Ottawa, Kan.) is in his first year with the Hornets. He had five points on two of three shooting in 15 minutes at Iowa State.
He was a First-Team Class 4A Division I All-State performer for Ottawa HS. He broke Semi Ojeleye's record for career made three-pointers at Ottawa HS with 254 and broke Conner Frankamp's Kansas state record for three-point field goal percentage at 49.9% as he hit 254 of 509 three pointers in his four years.
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.
ON THE 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.
HORNETS RANK IN NATION IN ATTENDANCE
The Emporia State men's basketball team continued a string of 16 straight years ranking in the top 30 in attendance among the over 300 NCAA Division II basketball playing schools. The Hornets averaged 1,374 fans to 13 home games and were ranked 22nd nationally. Emporia State outdrew 87 NCAA Division I schools during the 2017-17 school year.
The Hornets were among eight MIAA teams in the top 25 nationally. The MIAA drew 269,321 fans to the 206 games to lead all Division II conference in average attendance at 1,307 fans per game. The MIAA's total attendance was better than eight NCAA Division I conferences.
