EMPORIA STATE MEN OPEN MIAA PLAY IN WHITE AUDITORIUM AGAINST NEB.-KEARNEY

Game #9
Emporia State Hornets (4-4, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Neb.-Kearney Lopers (5-5, 2-0 MIAA)
Series Record: UNK leads 21-18 Last Meeting: at ESU 87, UNK 86 OT (Feb. 4, 2017)
Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017 • 7:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium  
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (7:10 p.m.) Internet Audio: kvoe.com
Television: None Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Live Stats • Ticket Info • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Ft. Hays State • Dec. 9, 2017 • 3:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium

MIAA STARTER
The Hornets return to White Auditorium to open MIAA play against Neb.-Kearney. Emporia State is 12-14 all-time in MIAA openers, 9-6 when opening at home.

LAST TIME OUT
A 3:40 scoring drought at the end of the first half cost Emporia State in 68-63 loss at Rogers State on Saturday. Neither team scored in the first 2:31 of the game. Rogers State took a 17-7 lead with 9:54 remaining before Stephaun Limuel scored for the Hornets with 8:51 left to start a 13-3 run for Emporia State.  A Danny Hodge layup with 5:18 left would tie the score at 20.  Limuel hit one of two free throws with 3:40 left to pull the Hornets within 26-23, but that would be the last score of the half for the Hornets.  Rogers State ended the half on a 9-0 run to take a 35-23 lead to the locker room. The Hornets used an 11-1 run over the first 3:38 of the second half to pull within 38-34 with 16:22 left in the game. Hassan Thomas hit two free throws with 4:59 left to pull the Hornets within a point at 56-55 but the Hillcats would hit 12 of 16 free throws in the final 4:42 to ice the win. Limuel led Emporia State with career highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds to go with three steals and two blocks.

THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 82-97 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 is 4-4 against Neb.-Kearney.
Kevin Lofton is 202-152 in his 13th year at Neb.-Kearney, but his third with a 46-27 record as sole head coach. He is 4-4 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 4-4 on the season and are averaging 75.0 points per game as a team. Brandon Hall is averaging 17.9 points per game and is eighth in the MIAA in scoring and is seventh in assists and tenth in assist to turnover ratio. Seven Hornets average at least 5.0 points per game and all 12 are averaging at least 6.0 minutes per game.
 
ABOUT THE LOPERS
Neb.-Kearney is 5-5, 2-0 in the MIAA. They are averaging 79.9 points per game on the year while giving up 80.5 points per game. Trey Lansman leads four Lopers in double figures at 21.8 points per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 40th meeting with Nebraska-Kearney holding a 21-18 lead. The home team has won eight of the last nine in the series, with the Hornets win in Kearney two years ago being the lone road win.

LAST TIMEOUT VS NEB.-KEARNEY
Brandon Hall hit a jumper with 18 seconds left and then forced a turnover as time expired to give Emporia State an 87-86 overtime victory in White Auditorium. Neb.-Kearney would take an 86-80 lead with 1:52 left in the overtime but the Hornets scored the final seven points of the game for the win. Hall finished with 23 points and six assists to go with two blocks, two steals and two rebounds.  He was joined in double figures by Garin Vandiver with 15 points and Jevon Taylor with 13 points.

UP NEXT
The Hornets continue MIAA play on Saturday against Ft. Hays State. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. at White Auditorium.

FRIENDLY CONFINES
Emporia State has won 156 of their last 212 games (.736) in White Auditorium. Thirty-nine of the 56 losses have been by less than ten points. Their three losses this year are by a combined ten points with one in overtime. The Hornets are 378-169 (.691) since 1979 in White Auditorium. The Hornets have had 13 winning home records in the past 14 years in White Auditorium.

KID IN THE HALL
Guard Brandon Hall (Jr./Arlington, Texas) is ranked eighth in the MIAA in scoring and seventh in assists. He was held with out a field goal for the first time in 31 games at Rogers State. He had 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists against Rockhurst. He was 11 of 18 from the field for 28 points with six rebounds and five assists against Newman. He scored 13 points against Northwestern Oklahoma. He scored 21 points with seven rebounds and four assists against Drury. He had 11 points, three assists, three rebounds, and three steals in just 15 minutes against Kansas Wesleyan. He was named MIAA Co-Player of the Week after he led the Hornets in scoring and assists in the first two games of the year. He averaged 24.0 points and 7.0 assists during the MIAA-NSIC Challenge in White Auditorium over the weekend.  He had a career high 11 assists and added 18 points against Sioux Falls.  He came back with a career high 30 points on 11 of 14 shooting from the field against Southwest Minnesota State.
He earned second-team All-MIAA honors last season. 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 had 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.
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 has scored 760 points in 63 career games for the Hornets and was 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.

MORTON MAGIC
Guard Brian Morton (Sr./Lansing, Mich.) was held to eight points at Rogers State. He scored 16 points on six of seven shooting from the field against Rockhurst. He had six rebounds against Newman. He had eight points against Northwestern Oklahoma. He scored a game high 21 points on seven of nine shooting at Missouri. He had a team high nine rebounds against Kansas Wesleyan in 20 minutes. He scored 19 points on seven of nine shooting against Sioux Falls. He had a team high six rebounds at Iowa State and added six points.
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 had eight points and six rebounds at Ft. Hays State. He scored 15 points at Neb.-Kearney. He had 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 as a sophomore and averaged 8.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He is a graduate of Lansing Eastern HS.

BETTER WITH LIMES
Forward Stephaun Limuel (Sr./Rosharon, Texas) is ranked fifth in the MIAA in steals. He had career highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds with three steals and two blocks at Rogers State before fouling out. He had six points and three steals in just 14 minutes against Rockhurst. He scored 14 points with nine rebounds and two steals against Northwestern Oklahoma. He had eight points and nine rebounds at Missouri. He had a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds while dishing four assists and getting three steals against Drury. He scored nine points on four of six shooting in his first start of the year against Kansas Wesleyan. He was three of three from the field for seven points against Southwest Minnesota. He had five points and five boards against Sioux Falls. 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 in 2015-16 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.

ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS
Forward Hassan Thomas (Jr./Dallas, Texas) is ranked fourth in the MIAA in offensive rebounding and is seventh in blocked shots. He scored six points in 11 minutes at Rogers State. He had 13 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots against Rockhurst. He pulled seven rebounds and scored nine points against Newman. He had ten points and six rebounds against Northwestern Oklahoma. He pulled down a career high 12 rebounds and scored eight points with two blocked shots and two assists against Drury. He had six rebounds and two blocked shots in the second half against Kansas Wesleyan. He scored a career high 24 points on nine of 13 shooting from the field, including a five of five effort from the three-point arc against Sioux Falls. He scored ten points, all in the second half, on four of six shooting from the field at Iowa 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.) scored 11 points and hit three three-pointers against Rockhurst. He had 12 points against Newman. He scored seven points with four assists against Northwestern Oklahoma. He was just one for nine for three points at Missouri, but his one make was a three-pointer that pulled the Hornets within two points with 1:49 left in the game. He scored eight points and was six of six from the free throw line against Drury. He had 13 points with three three-pointers against Sioux Falls. 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 ranked number one in his class with a 3.98 GPA.

WHO-LUTCH-OW-WEK-EE
Guard Malik Hluchoweckyj (Jr./Omaha, Neb.) scored 11 points with four rebounds and four assists at Rogers State. He tied his career high with six rebounds against Rockhurst. He had career highs of 14 points and six rebounds against Northwestern Oklahoma. He scored seven points and was credited with two blocks at Missouri. He scored 11 points on five of nine shooting with four rebounds and two steals against Drury. He scored six points in the second half against Kansas Wesleyan. He hit a free throw against Southwest Minnesota 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.

FRESH
Forward Jawan Emery (Jr./Overland Park, Kan.) is shooting .536 from the field on the season. He had five points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals against Rockhurst in a season high 18 minutes. He scored eight points with four rebounds and two blocks against Newman. He scored two points in eight minutes against Northwestern Oklahoma. He had two points, two rebounds and a steal in ten minutes at Missouri. He blocked one shot in his four minutes against Drury. He had eight points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals in just 12 minutes against Kansas Wesleyan. He scored seven points in seven minutes against Sioux Falls after not playing in the two exhibition games with an injury.
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 in 2015-16. A Blue Valley North HS graduate he helped the Blue Dragons to the NJCAA Championship game in 2016.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Forward Garin Vandiver (Sr./Emporia, Kan.) scored eight points and had three rebounds against Rockhurst. He had two rebounds and scored two points against Newman after missing the Missouri and Northwestern Oklahoma games with an ankle injury. He scored nine points against Kansas Wesleyan. He had eight rebounds against Southwest Minnesota. 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 in 2015-16. He is the son of Emporia State coach Shaun Vandiver. He is a graduate of Emporia HS.

HODGE PODGE
Guard Danny Hodge (So./Spring Hill, Kan.) had four points at Rogers State. He was perfect from the field and scored four points against Newman. He scored five points at Mizzou and hit a three pointer with 46 seconds left to pull the Hornets within two points. He tied his career high with ten points against Kansas Wesleyan and added three assists and two steals against the Coyotes. He had a rebound and an assist against Southwest Minnesota State.  He had an assist at Kansas State.
He scored six points in five minutes at Washburn last year. 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.) had a career high three rebounds against Rockhurst. He scored a career high 12 points on four of six shooting from the three-point line against Newman, all in the first half. He scored three points with three rebounds at Missouri and added two steals. He hit a three-pointer against Southwest Minnesota State. 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 career three-point field goal percentage at 49.9% as he hit 254 of 509 three pointers.

BUILD THE FORT
Forward Duncan Fort (Fr.-RS/Osage City, Kan.) pulled three rebounds against Newman. He had six points and five rebounds at Missouri. He scored five points against Kansas Wesleyan. He had an assist against Sioux Falls. 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 before redshirting the regular season.
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.) had five points and three assists with two rebounds against Kansas Wesleyan. He scored six points on three of four shooting at Iowa State. He scored three points at K-State. He red-shirted for Emporia State last season.
He was an honorable mention all-state performer at Basehor-Linwood HS as a senior in 2015-16.

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.

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.

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 2017-18 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.