TURPIKE TUSSLE ON TAP FOR EMPORIA STATE MEN IN TOPEKA

Game #14
Emporia State Hornets (7-6, 2-1 MIAA)
at Washburn Ichabods (10-3, 4-0 MIAA)
Series Record: WU leads 106-103 Last Meeting: at WU 90, ESU 63 (Feb. 14, 2017)
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 • 7:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena  
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (6:40 p.m.) Internet Audio: kvoe.com
Television: None Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Up Next: Central Okla. • Jan. 10, 2018 • 7:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • Slaymaker Crt./White Aud.

TURNPIKE TUSSLE
The Hornets start 2018 by taking on Washburn in the 210th or so edition of the Turnpike Tussle.

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 72-60 win over Central Christian. Stephaun Limuel got Emporia State on the board with layup inside with 18:13 left to ignite a 12-2 Hornet run.  Garin Vandiver's three-pointer with 14:30 left gave Emporia State a 12-7 lead before the Tigers went on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 14 with 12:28 left.  A 7-0 run put the Hornets back up 21-14 with 11:06 left in the half. The Tigers took a 26-24 lead with 6:03 remaining in the half before the Hornets took a 35-34 lead to the locker rooms. Out of the first media timeout of the half, Emporia State went a 10-2 run as they began to get separation with a 55-46 lead and 11:48 remaining.  The teams traded baskets until Thomas scored six straight points to give Emporia State a 63-50 lead with 7:02 left. Central Christian would not get closer than nine the rest of the night and Emporia State saw the lead hit 16 before settling for the 72-60 final score. Brandon Hall led all scorers with 20 points and added six rebounds. Hassan Thomas had 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks off the bench while Brian Morton joined them in double figures with ten points.

THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 85-99 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 4-8 against Washburn.
Brett Ballard is 10-3 in his first year at Washburn. This is his first meeting with Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 7-6, 2-2 in the MIAA. They are second in the league in offensive rebounding and rank third in the MIAA in blocked shots. Brandon Hall is averaging 15.2 points per game overall while Stephaun Limuel is averaging 13.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in MIAA games.
 
ABOUT THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 10-3 overall, 4-0 in the MIAA. They lead the league in field goal percentage defense and defensive rebounding. Brady Skeens is leading the league in rebounding, blocks and field goal percentage. They are 6-0 at home this season, with four of the wins over NAIA teams.

SERIES HISTORY
According to Emporia State records this will be the 210th meeting between the two schools with Washburn leading 106-103. The two teams have met every year since World War II.

LAST TIMEOUT VS WASHBURN
Washburn used a 15-1 run midway through the second half to blow open a 90-63 win over Emporia State in Topeka. The Hornets fell behind 10-0 to start the game, and trailed 18-5 with 11:19 left in the first half.  Emporia State then had their best stretch of the night as they went on a 14-4 run to pull within three points.  Washburn answered with an 11-3 run of their own and then scored the final nine points of the half to go into the break ahead 44-27. The lead would eventually reach 36 points before ending at 27 points. Brandon Hall and Jay Temaat each had nine points to lead the Hornets in scoring.

UP NEXT
The Hornets return to White Auditorium to take on Central Oklahoma on January 10. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

FRIENDLY CONFINES
Emporia State has won 158 of their last 215 games (.734) in White Auditorium. The Hornets are 380-170 (.691) since 1979 in White Auditorium. The Hornets have had 13 winning home records in the past 14 years in White Auditorium.

TURNPIKE TUSSLE FUN FACTS
This is the most played rivalry for both schools and the only series for each school in which they have both 100 wins and 100 losses.  
The home team has won nine of the last ten meetings.
Since both teams reconnected as conference foes for the 1990-91 MIAA season, only seven out of 57 games have been decided by three points or less or in overtime with Emporia State winning four of the seven.
Since the end of World War II, only three of 11 Emporia State and Washburn coaches have won their first meeting in the rivalry. The last coach to win his first Turnpike Tussle was Washburn's Glenn Cafer 64-55 on Feb. 20, 1968. In fact he is the only rookie coach to win his first Turnpike Tussle since the Kansas Turnpike has only been open since Oct. 25, 1956. The Ichabods Marion McDonald won 80-53 on February 7, 1952 while Gus Fish picked up a 59-40 win for the Hornets on January 21, 1947.

KID IN THE HALL
Guard Brandon Hall (Jr./Arlington, Texas) is ranked tenth in the MIAA in assist to turnover ratio and 11th in assists. He had a career high four made three-pointers on the way to 20 points against Central Christian. He scored five of his seven points at Lincoln in the final 4:18 of the game. He had 11 points against Ft. Hays State. 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 scored 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 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 18 points at Sioux Falls.  He scored 23 points against Southwest Minnesota State. He had nine points and six assists at Kansas.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015-16 he scored 15 points against Missouri Southern. He scored ten points and had four assists at Washburn. 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 814 points in 68 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.

BETTER WITH LIMES
Forward Stephaun Limuel (Sr./Rosharon, Texas) is ranked sixth in the MIAA in blocked shots and steals, is eighth in rebounding and fourth in offensive rebounds. In conference games only he leads the MIAA with 4.0 offensive rebounds per game and is third overall at 9.3 boards per game.  He scored six points with six rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks against Central Christian. He had 14 points and a career high 15 rebounds with three assists at Lindenwood. He scored 13 points with five rebounds at Lincoln. He had eight points, five rebounds and three blocks in 16 minutes against Ft. Hays State. He scored 18 points with 12 rebounds and five steals - all then career highs - against Neb.-Kearney.  He had 17 points and 11 rebounds with three steals and two blocks at Rogers State. He scored 14 points with nine rebounds and two steals against Northwestern Oklahoma. He had eight points and nine rebounds at Missouri. He had 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 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 and 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 had 16 points and nine rebounds against Kansas Wesleyan. He had three blocked shots at Ft. Hays State. 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.

MORTON MAGIC
Guard Brian Morton (Sr./Lansing, Mich.) is averaging 13.0 points per game in MIAA play. He is shooting .509 from the field in Emporia State's seven wins. He had ten points and five rebounds against Central Christian. He scored 20 points with eight rebounds at Lincoln. He had seven points and six rebounds against Ft. Hays State. He led all scorers with 20 points against Neb.-Kearney. He scored 16 points on six of seven shooting from the field against Rockhurst. He scored 21 points on seven of nine shooting at Missouri. He had 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 with six points.
He had eight points, five rebounds and four assists against Neb.-Kearney last season. 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 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. 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.

WHO-LUTCH-OW-WEK-EE
Guard Malik Hluchoweckyj (Jr./Omaha, Neb.) dished a career high five assists at Lindenwood. He had eight points in his first career start at Lincoln. He 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 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 scored eight points at Iowa 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 AP All-State Class A First-Team and a First-Team Super-State selection as a senior.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Forward Garin Vandiver (Sr./Emporia, Kan.) is averaging 12.8 points and shooting .629 from the field and .538 from the three point line in MIAA play. He was three of four frm beyond the arc against Central Christian. He scored 12 points with seven boards at Lincoln. He led Emporia State with 17 points and six rebounds against Ft. Hays State. He was six of nine from the field for 13 points against Neb.-Kearney. He scored eight points and had three rebounds against Rockhurst. 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 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 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. 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.

FRESH
Forward Jawan Emery (Jr./Overland Park, Kan.) 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 had two points, two rebounds and a steal in ten minutes at Missouri. 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 from 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 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.

OUT OF HIS SHELL
Guard Grant Shell (So./Burlington, Kan.) had five rebounds against Central Christian. He scored a career high 18 points at Lindenwood with four made three-pointers. He has given the Hornets a lead with under two minutes in both of their MIAA wins this season. He hit a three with 1:23 left to put ESU up 75-73 at Lincoln. He scored eight points with three assists against Ft. Hays State. His only bucket of the night gave Emporia State a 68-67 lead with 1:35 left against Neb.-Kearney. He 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.

ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS
Forward Hassan Thomas (Jr./Dallas, Texas) is ranked fifth in the MIAA in offensive rebounding and is ninth in blocked shots. He scored 16 points with eight boards against Central Christian. He had ten points and five rebounds against Neb.-Kearney. 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 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.

HODGE PODGE
Guard Danny Hodge (So./Spring Hill, Kan.) had five points with four rebounds at Lindenwood. He scored five points at Lincoln. 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 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. He scored three points with three rebounds at Missouri and added two steals. 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.) 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.

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 2017-18 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.