EMPORIA STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTS MISSOURI WESTERN ON SATURDAY NIGHT

Game #24
Emporia State Hornets (8-15, 3-11 MIAA)
vs. Missouri Western Griffons (4-17, 2-12 MIAA)
Series Record: MWSU leads 43-31 Last Meeting: ESU 73, at MWSU 67 (Feb. 11, 2017)
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 • 7:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium    
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (6:40 p.m.) Internet Audio: kvoe.com
Television: None Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Live Stats • Ticket Info • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Washburn • Feb. 13, 2018 • 7:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium  

SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL
Emporia State takes on Missouri Western in a game that could go a long way in determining the field for the MIAA Tournament.

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State battled the defending national champions down to the wire before falling 55-50 to Northwest Missouri. Neither team could get more than a four point lead over the first 14 minutes of the game.  The Bearcats hit back to back three-pointers to take an 18-12 lead with 5:48 remaining in the half.  The Hornets finished the half on an 8-1 run and Garin Vandiver gave the Hornets a 25-23 lead when he buried a three-pointer with four seconds left. Brandon Hall scored in the paint with 3:59 left to give Emporia State a 43-42 lead.  Hall hit a three-pointer with 1:35 remaining to bring Emporia State within three at 49-46 but Justin Pitts hit two free throws to push the lead back to five with 1:10 left.  Stephaun Limuel scored on a put back with 46 seconds left but Pitts then answered with a driving layup to give the Bearcats a 53-48 lead with 19 seconds left. Vandiver found Limuel inside with 11.3 seconds left to make it 53-50.  Pitts iced the win with two free throws with 9.0 seconds left. Stephaun Limuel had his tenth double-double of the year with ten points and 12 rebounds.
 
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 86-108 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 5-2 against Missouri Western.
Brett Weiberg is 45-89 in his fifth year at Mo. Western. He is 1-3 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 8-14, 3-10 in the MIAA. Ten of their 15 losses have been by five points or less or in overtime. Emporia State has led by at least eight points in six of their losses and have held a ten point plus lead in three of them. Brandon Hall is the leading scorer for the Hornets at 13.9 points per game.
 
ABOUT THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 4-17 overall and 2-12 in the MIAA. They have lost 11 of their last 12 games.  Lavon Hightower is their leading scorer at 14.5 points per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 75th meeting between the two teams with Missouri Western holding a 43-31 overall advantage. The Hornets have won seven of the last ten meetings.

LAST TIMEOUT VS. MISSOURI WESTERN
Emporia State used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to take control in a 73-67 win at Missouri Western and clinch a spot in the MIAA Tournament. A lay-up by Seth Bonifas pulled the Griffons to within 39-38 with 11:54 left in the game when the Hornets took control with a 10-0 run to take a 49-38 lead with 9:43 remaining.  Jay Temaat iced the game with two free throws with 10.2 left for the final score of 73-67. Brandon Hall led five Hornets in double figures with 21 points and dished eight assists.  Jevon Taylor had 13 points, Temaat and Garin Vandiver each scored 11 and Pedersen hit ten for Emporia State.

UP NEXT
The Hornets take on Washburn in the final home game of the 2017-18 season. Tip-off for the Tuesday Senior Night edition of the Turnpike Tussle is set for 7:30 p.m.

FRIENDLY CONFINES
Emporia State has won 159 of their last 220 games (.723) in White Auditorium. The Hornets are 381-174 (.686) since 1979 in White Auditorium. The Hornets have had 13 winning home records in the past 14 years in White Auditorium.

BETTER WITH LIMES
Forward Stephaun Limuel (Sr./Rosharon, Texas) is leading the MIAA in offensive rebounds, while ranking fourth in steals and rebounding. He recorded his tenth double-double of the year with ten points and 12 rebounds against Northwest Missouri. He had 11 points and 12 rebounds against Southwest Baptist. He scored a career high 27 points with 13 rebounds, and five steals at Mo. Southern. He had 15 points and 11 rebounds at Pitt State. He scored 16 points with 13 rebounds against Northeastern State. He had ten points and nine boards against Central Okla. He scored 14 points with ten rebounds at Washburn.  He had 14 points and a career high 15 rebounds with three assists at Lindenwood. He scored 18 points with 12 rebounds and five steals against Neb.-Kearney.  He had 17 points and 11 rebounds at Rogers State. He scored 14 points with nine rebounds against Northwestern Okla. He had eight points and nine rebounds at Mizzou. He had 12 points and ten rebounds against Drury. He had six points and six rebounds at Iowa State. He had six points and five boards at K-State.
He had 11 rebounds and four assists against Northeastern State last year. He scored 12 points with six rebounds against Pittsburg State. He scored 10 points and seven rebounds against Washburn. He had 16 points and nine rebounds against Kansas Wesleyan. 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.

KID IN THE HALL
Guard Brandon Hall (Jr./Arlington, Texas) is ranked ninth in the MIAA in assists and tenth in assist to turnover ratio. He scored seven points against Northwest Missouri with five rebounds. He had 25 points with a career high six made three-pointers and dished six assists against Southwest Baptist. He had 14 points and seven rebounds at Missouri Southern. He scored 22 points against Northeastern State. He scored 22 points at Washburn. He had 20 points against Central Christian. He had 11 points against Ft. Hays 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 21 points with seven rebounds and four assists against Drury. He was named MIAA Player of the Week after he led the Hornets in scoring and assists with 24.0 points and 7.0 assists during the MIAA-NSIC Challenge.  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.
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 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 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 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 against Eastern New Mexico. He went for 23 points against Southwest Minnesota. He scored 17 points against Sioux Falls.
He has scored 936 points in 78 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.) had seven assists at Neb.-Kearney. He scored eight points at Ft. Hays State. He had 14 points and three steals against Southwest Baptist. He scored eight points with six rebounds against Central Missouri. He had 14 points with four assists against Northeastern State. He scored 20 points with eight rebounds at Lincoln. He had seven points and six rebounds against Ft. Hays State. He scored 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. He scored 19 points on seven of nine shooting against Sioux Falls. He had 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. He had 12 points against Southwest Minnesota. He scored 18 points 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.

ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS
Forward Hassan Thomas (Jr./Dallas, Texas) is ranked seventh in the MIAA in offensive rebounding. He scored 15 points with five rebounds, three steals and two blocks at Neb.-Kearney. He had 12 points and nine boards at Ft. Hays State. He scored 16 points and pulled seven rebounds against Southwest Baptist. 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 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, 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 eight points at Neb.-Kearney. He had seven points and seven rebounds at Ft. Hays State after missing the SBU game in concussion protocol. He had 15 points and six rebounds against Central Missouri. He scored nine point on three made three-pointers at Missouri Southern. He had a team high four assists at Pittsburg State. He was four of five from the field for 14 points against Northeastern State. He had 13 points with three treys against Central Oklahoma. He scored a career high 18 points at Lindenwood with four made three-pointers. He hit a three with 1:23 left to put ESU up 75-73 at Lincoln. 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 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.
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.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Forward Garin Vandiver (Sr./Emporia, Kan.) has gone 13 of 49 from the field in his last seven games. He pulled six rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. He had eight points against Central Missouri. He scored ten points on four of five shooting against Northeastern State. He had 12 points and six boards against Central Oklahoma. He scored ten points with five rebounds at Washburn. He was three of four from 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 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.

BUILD THE FORT
Forward Duncan Fort (Fr.-RS/Osage City, Kan.) had four points against Northwest Missouri. He scored three points on an old fashioned three-point play at Neb.-Kearney. He has only taken five shots in the last six games since he scored a career high 12 points, all in the second half, at Pittsburg State on four of six shooting from the field with three rebounds. He had a block and made two free throws against Northeastern State. He hit a free throw with 1.5 seconds left against Central Oklahoma. 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.

SPORTS NIGHT
Guard Isaac McCullough (Fr./Ottawa, Kan.) hit two three-pointers in the first half at Neb.-Kearney. 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-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.

OVER HILL AND DALE
Guard Jack Dale (Fr.-RS/Tonganoxie, Kan.) had his first career start against Southwest Baptist. He scored five points against Central Missouri. He had a career high six points at Pittsburg State. He scored three points in four minutes against Central Oklahoma. He 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 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.

HODGE PODGE
Guard Danny Hodge (So./Spring Hill, Kan.) pulled three rebounds at Pittsburg State. He had five points with four rebounds at Lindenwood. He scored five points at Lincoln. He scored five points at Missouri 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.
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.

WHO-LUTCH-OW-WEK-EE
Guard Malik Hluchoweckyj (Jr./Omaha, Neb.) has scored in double figures once in 12 MIAA games. He scored four points and had five rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. He had a career high 15 points at Washburn. He  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 had six rebounds against Rockhurst. He scored 14 points with six rebounds against Northwestern Oklahoma. He scored 11 points on five of nine shooting with four rebounds against Drury. He scored eight points at Iowa State.
He played in 21 games over two years at Bowling Green State before transferring to ESU.
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.

FRESH
Forward Jawan Emery (Jr./Overland Park, Kan.) has not scored more than five points or had more than four rebounds in an MIAA game this year. He had five points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals against Rockhurst. He scored eight points with four rebounds and two blocks against Newman. He had eight points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals against Kansas Wesleyan. He scored seven points in seven minutes against Sioux Falls.
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.

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.