EMPORIA STATE MEN OPEN MIAA TOURNAMENT AT #1 NORTHWEST MISSOURI

Men's Basketball | 3/2/2021 11:35:00 PM

Game #23
Emporia State Hornets (11-11, 11-11 MIAA)
at #1 Northwest Missouri Bearcats (21-1, 21-1 MIAA)
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 • 5:30 p.m. • Maryville, Mo. • Bearcat Arena
Series Record: NWMSU leads 46-24 Last Meeting: #3 NWMSU 69, at ESU 62 (2/18/2021)
Radio: KVOE 101.7FM  Internet Audio: kvoe.com
Television: None Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Live Stats • NWMSU COVID Attendance Protocols • Complete Notes in pdf
MIAA Tournament Program
Up Next: Winner to MIAA Semifinals • Friday, March 5, 2021 • TBA
TBA • TBA

MARCH MADNESS    
Emporia State travels to #1 Northwest Missouri for their 21st appearance in the MIAA Tourney.

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State led for over 30 minutes but could not hold on at the end in a 73-70 loss at #25 Washburn. The Hornets went on a 10-0 run to take a 24-17 lead with 5:54 left and led 39-25 at the half. Washburn scored the first eight points of the second half and later used an 8-0 run to take a 65-63 lead with 2:30 remaining. They led 71-66 with :37 left but a Gage McGuire dunk with :27.9 left cut the deficit to three. One of two WU free throws with :17.3 left made it 72-68. Austin Downing got the ball down court quickly and scored with :10.3 to make it 72-70. Washburn hit one of two free throws with :09.2 left to leave the dooropen.  Downing got off a three-pointer but it rimmed out as Washburn escaped with the 73-70 win. Jumah'Ri Turner 24 points, Austin Downing had 18 points and eight assists while Gage McGuire added 17 points.  

THE COACHES
Craig Doty is 35-45 in his third season at Emporia State with a 1-1 record in the MIAA Tournament. In his ninth season as a head coach at the D2, NAIA, and NJCAA level he is 197-94 with three national championships. He was 49-22 in two seasons at Graceland, and won the 2018 NAIA National Championship. Prior to Graceland, Doty spent four years as the head coach at Rock Valley College winning two national championships and appearing in three straight NJCAA Division III title games to finish with a 113-28 record. He is 0-5 against NWMSU.
Ben McCollum is 294-77 in his 12th year at Northwest Missouri with a 21-4 mark in the MIAA Tournament. He is 15-4 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 11-11 on the season. They are leading the MIAA in field goal percentage defense, and are second in scoring defense and defensive rebounds. Jumah'Ri Turner is fifth in the MIAA in scoring.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri is 22-1 on the year and ranked #1 in the NABC National Poll. They lead the MIAA in scoring defense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage, rebound margin and assist to turnover ratio. Ryan Hawkins is second in the league in scoring while Trevor Hudgins ranks fourth.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 71st meeting between the two teams with the Bearcats leading 46-24 overall. NWMSU leads 3-0 in the MIAA Tournament including a 57-51 win in the 2008 Championship game and an 82-79 win in the 2019 quarterfinals.

LAST TIME VS NW MISSOURI
Emporia State and #3 Northwest Missouri were tied with 5:03 left but could not get over the hump in a 69-62 loss. The Bearcats led 11-4 before an 11-2 run gave Emporia State a 15-13 lead with 10:11 left. ESU used an 11-2 run to make it 34-32 at the break. NWMSU led 52-45 when ESU used a 9-2 run to tie it at 54 with 5:18 left. The Bearcats got back to back buckets to take a 58-54 lead with 3:46 left on their way to the 69-62 final. Austin Downing had 23 points while Jumah'Ri Turner had 14 and Mayuom Buom scored 12 points.

UP NEXT
The winner advances to the MIAA Semifinals at the highest remaining seed on Friday, March 5.

BRIEF BURSTS, LONG DELAYS AND RESCHEDULES
Between various COVID protocols at both Emporia State and their opponents, and the weather the Hornets have had six games postponed. Due to Northeastern State being in COVID protocols at the time, the Rogers State on February 13 was the only game in a 13 day window for the Hornets. Emporia State has had periods where they played four games in eight days, three games in three days and stretches of 14 days and 19 days without a game. Despite all of the delays, including weather delays, the entire MIAA schedule was completed.  

HOT START
Emporia State's 5-1 start in the MIAA was their best since going 5-1 to open the 2010-11 season. The Hornets started MIAA play with three road wins for the first time in their 30 years as a conference member. The last time Emporia State started conference play 3-0 was during the 2010-11 season against Northwest Missouri, Missouri Western and Neb.-Omaha, all in White Auditorium. The best start to MIAA play for the Hornets came in 2006-07 as they won their first seven conference games on the way to a 16-0 start to the season.

DOTY MAGIC
Three-time National Champion head coach Craig Doty is in his third season as head coach at Emporia State. He is 197-95 in his ninth year at the NCAA D2, NAIA and NJCAA levels, including an 94-64 mark in conference play. Doty is 83-67 as a head coach at four year schools with a 35-45 record since taking over for the Hornets.
He is 69-28 (.711) in games played in February and March with an unprecedented 29-5 (.853) record in the post-season. Two of those five post season losses were to the eventual national champion, by a combined six points - including an 82-79 loss to Northwest Missouri in 2019.
Doty led Rock Valley College and Graceland University to national prominence earlier in his career. In just two seasons at Graceland, Doty's program had a 49-22 record and won the 2018 NAIA Division I National Championship in the school's first trip to the national tournament at Kansas City's historic Municipal Auditorium. The Yellowjackets started the 2017-18 season 10-8 and ended the year winning 19 of their final 21 games. Along the way Doty earned NAIA National Coach of the Year, HoopDirt.com NAIA National Coach of the Year, and the 2018 Don Meyer Award.
Doty's programs at Rock Valley College won NJCAA Division III National titles in 2014 and 2016 while his 2015 squad came up just short finishing National Runner-up.

CENTURY MARK
Emporia State's 104-63 win over Saint Mary in 2018-19 marked the 100th time the Hornets have cracked the century mark in their history.  They have reached 100 points five times in 80 games under Coach Doty, matching their total for the previous eight seasons combined.  
The Hornets scored at least 100 points 60 times under coach Ron Slaymaker (827 total games in 28 seasons), 26 times under coach David Moe (288 games in 10 seasons), three times under coach Gus Fish (602 games in 25 seasons) and once under coach Marc Comstock (82 games in three seasons).

TOUGH ENOUGH
The NCAA Central Region is made up of teams in the MIAA, Northern Sun and Great American Conferences. During the non-conference portion of this season the MIAA went 23-18 against the rest of the region with a 13-8 record against the NSIC and a 10-10 record against the GAC. The GAC had an 8-4 record against the NSIC.

FRIENDLY CONFINES
The Hornets are 403-192 (.677) since 1979 in White Auditorium. Emporia State has won 187 of their last 274 games (.682) in White Auditorium dating back to the 2002-03 season. In the last 35 years, they have twice had home court winning streaks of 23 games, the first was from 1985-87 with the most recent one coming from February 12, 2003-December 18, 2004.  They have posted home winning seasons in 17 of the last 19 seasons.

ATTENDANCE PROTOCOLS
Working with Lyon County Public Health, Emporia State limited attendance at White Auditorium to a player pass list for both teams through the first four games of the season. Starting January 14, 2021 a limited number of Emporia State season ticket holders/donors have been able to purchase tickets and beginning February 4, a limited number of Emporia State students will be allowed entry.

HORNETS RANK IN NATION IN ATTENDANCE
The Emporia State men's basketball team continued a string of 18 straight years ranking in the top 25 in attendance among the over 300 NCAA Division II basketball playing schools.
The Hornets drew 21,675 total fans for an average of 1,355 fans to their 16 home games at Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium during the 2019-20 season to rank 18th nationally.  
Emporia State outdrew 109 NCAA Division I schools in total attendance during the 2019-20 school year. Within the Division II ranks, the Hornets outdrew 55 of the 64 teams that were selected for the NCAA Tournament, including five of the eight #1 seeds.
The Hornets were among seven MIAA teams in the top 25 nationally. As a conference the MIAA drew 251,994 fans to 196 games to lead all Division II conference in average attendance at 1,286 fans per game. It is the 12th straight year the MIAA has led the nation in average attendance. The MIAA's total attendance was better than seven NCAA Division I conferences. The Central Region had a total of nine teams ranked in the top 25 as two teams from the NSIC were on the list as well.

MIAA HISTORY
The Hornets are just 7-20 in MIAA Tournament play, having lost ten of their first 11 games in conference tournament play.  They are 6-10 since the 2008 Tournament with three semifinal appearances and a trip to the championship game in 2008 against Northwest Missouri.  

STATE OF KANSAS CHAMPS
Emporia State went 6-1 against the other MIAA schools from the state of Kansas this season for the best winning percentage amongst the five Sunflower State schools.  The Hornets have not gone undefeated against Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State and Washburn in a season since 1957-58.

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, 2014  city commission meeting.

AND IN THE RAFTERS
Dale Cushinberry (1966-69) - Cushinberry 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 462 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.

LISTEN & WATCH LIVE
Video webcasts for all of Emporia State's regular season home games are available on a pay per view basis from the MIAA Network. Content is available live and is immediately archived for on-demand viewing after each event at www.themiaanetwork.com. Audio of all Emporia State games are available on KFFX 104.9FM and at www.kvoe.com with Greg Rahe on the call. KFFX is in their 32nd straight year as the radio home of Hornet Athletics, the longest active streak between a commercial station and an MIAA school. All games will also be available on the internet at www.kvoe.com.

TURNING PRO
Emporia State's Julius Jackson became the third Hornet men's basketball player to sign professionally following the 2018-19 season when he signed a professional contract with Raiders Basket Jarvenpaa in Finland. Hassan Thomas signed with Sampaense Basket of Portugal Proliga while Malik Hluchoweckyj signed with KK Bratunac of the Bosnia BiH Liga also signed pro contracts overseas while Kooper Glick played with the Washington Generals - the regular opponent of the Harlem Globetrotters. It is the first time in school history the Hornets  had four players from the same class sign to play professionally in the same year.

#1 DALLAS BAILEY
6-6 • 230 • Senior • Guard
Denver, Colo. • Lakewood HS/Iowa Central CC
As a Senior in 2020-21
He is ranked 14th in the MIAA in rebounding and 19th in assists. He pulled eight rebounds at Washburn. He had nine rebounds at Pitt State. He had seven rebounds and five assists against Northeastern State. He grabbed 11 rebounds and dished seven assists with just one turnover against Missouri Western. He had nine rebounds at Central Oklahoma. He scored 17 points and was five of seven from the three-point line against Washburn. He had a career high 13 rebounds at Missouri Western. He had 16 points with four made three-pointers against Central Missouri. He scored 13 points with three treys against Lincoln.  
As a Junior in 2019-20
Suffered a broken bone in his foot at Central Missouri and was out for the rest of the season. He scored 12 points on four three-pointers against Central Oklahoma. He had 11 rebounds against Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri. He scored ten points at Washburn. He had seven rebounds against William Jewell with three steals. He had six rebounds against Southwestern Oklahoma.
Previously
He averaged 14.6 points and 8.5 rebounds as a sophomore for the Iowa Central CC. He had a season high 30 points against the Grand View JV and 18 rebounds against North Iowa Area CC. As a freshman he averaged 12.9 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Tritons. He averaged 17 points a game for Lakewood HS in Denver as a senior in 2016-17.

#3 GAGE MCGUIRE
6-7 • Sophomore • Forward
Coldwater, Mich. • Coldwater HS
As a Sophomore in 2020-21
He scored 17 points on seven of seven shooting from the field with two three-pointers at Washburn, although he did go just one of six from the free throw line. He scored 17 points against Northeastern State. He had a career high 20 points on nine of 11 shooting against Missouri Western. He has gone 24 of 30 from the field (.800) in his last three games after missing all 11 shots he had taken in his three previous games. He scored 13 points against Washburn. He scored a career high 18 points at Rogers State. He scored 15 points against Newman. He had 13 points and ten rebounds against Central Missouri. He had eight points, six rebounds and four assists against Lincoln. He scored 11 points and added five rebounds at Northeastern State.  
As a Freshman in 2019-20
He was 24th in the MIAA in blocked shots. He had eight points and nine rebounds against Rogers State. He scored 13 points on six of ten shooting at Central Oklahoma. He had 11 boards at Rogers State. He had ten rebounds to go with eight points against Missouri Southern. He scored 16 points on six of eight shooting at Neb.-Kearney. He had five points and five rebounds against Missouri Western. He went three for three from the three-point line against Tabor.
Previously
He averaged 10.3 rebounds as a senior after averaging 18.0 points and 7.6 rebounds, per game for Coldwater HS as a junior. He is a two time Class A All-State selection and the Interstate 8 Conference MVP.

#10 JUMAH'RI TURNER
6-2 • Senior • Guard
Minneapolis, Minn. • John F. Kennedy HS/Rochester CC
As a Senior in 2020-21
He is ranked fifth in the MIAA in scoring, sixth in free throw percentage, 14th in field goal percentage, 15th in steals, and 23rd in made three-pointers. He had 24 points and seven rebounds at Washburn. He scored 27 points and had a career high eight rebounds at Pittsburg State.  He had 20 points against Northeastern State. He scored a season high 27 points against Missouri Western. He had 14 points against Northwest Missouri. He scored 20 points at Lincoln. He had 23 points against Rogers State. He scored 21 points at Central Oklahoma. He had 27 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals against Washburn. He scored 20 points with five rebounds and four steals against Missouri Southern. He had 24 points against Pitt State. He had 26 points at Missouri Western. He had 21 points a four steals against Newman. He scored 18 points at Wichita State. He had 11 points on four of five shooting in the first half against Lincoln. He had 21 points at Northeastern State.
 As a Junior in 2019-20
He led the MIAA and ranked third in the nation in free throw percentage and ranked 18th in the conference in scoring. He had 25 points at Lincoln. He scored a career high 32 points on eight of nine shooting from the field and five of five from beyond the arc against Central Okla. He scored 18 points against Mo. Western. He had 22 points against both Northwest Mo. and Washburn. He scored 18 points against Ft. Hays State. He had 19 points, five rebounds and four assists against Neb.-Kearney. He scored 22 points against William Jewell. He had 30 points with eight rebounds against Rockhurst. He had 24 points against Southwestern Okla. after taking a medical redshirt in 2018-19.
Previously
He was an NJCAA D-III third-team All-American in 2017-18 as he averaged 22.0 points and 4.8 rebounds for Rochester Community and Tech College. He was an all-league performer for John F. Kennedy HS.

#11 KONG KONG
6-7 • Junior • Guard
Mankato, Minn. • Rochester C&TC/Mankato East HS
As a Junior in 2020-21
He dished three assists against Pittsburg State. He scored eight points at Northwest Missouri. He had four rebounds at Rogers State. He scored seven points in a span of 2:03 at Wichita State.
Previously
He averaged 16.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 32 starts as a sophomore for the Yellowjackets as they advanced to the NJCAA D-III National Semifinals. He pulled 16 rebounds on three different occasions. He was a first-team NJCAA D-III All-American. He led Mankato East HS to a 25-7 record as a senior.

#14 DUNCAN FORT
6-6 • Senior • Forward
Osage City, Kan. • Osage City HS
As a Senior in 2020-21
He had a career high 18 points on seven of nine shooting against Northeastern State with 11 points coming in the first three minutes. He hit two of three treys against Northwest Missouri. He pulled six rebounds at Central Okla. He had seven boards against Newman and Central Missouri. He scored eight points against Lincoln with two made three pointers.   
As a Junior in 2019-20
He grabbed a career high 11 rebounds against Rogers State. He had career highs of 16 points and eight rebounds at Newman. He scored 15 points with eight rebounds and was seven of nine from the field against Newman. He scored ten points on three of four shooting and had five rebounds at Ft. Hays State. He had six rebounds and six points at Washburn. He had six rebounds and a steal at K-State.
As a Sophomore in 2018-19
He scored nine points with seven rebounds against Northeastern State in the MIAA Tournament. He had seven points at Central Okla. He scored seven points on three of four shooting against Mo Southern. He had nine points and seven rebounds at NWOSU. He scored 13 points against McPherson.   
As a Freshman in 2017-18
He scored a then career high 12 points, all in the second half, at Pittsburg State. He had six points and five rebounds at Missouri. He scored five points with four rebounds at Iowa State. He had seven points and two rebounds at Kansas State. He red-shirted the 2016-17 season.   
Previously
He was a first-team All-Kansas player for Osage City HS in 2015-16. His father Dennis played for the Hornets from 1985-89.

#21 TYREEK ROBINSON
6-6 • Sophomore • Forward
Kissimmee, Fla. • Gateway HS
As a Sophomore in 2020-21
He scored four points on two of two shooting in six minutes at Pittsburg State. He had three points and a rebound in four minutes at Northwest Missouri. He scored two points with three rebounds against Newman. He saw his first action of the season against Lincoln.
As a Freshman in 2019-20
He had six rebounds against Rogers State. He pulled eight rebounds against Northeastern State. He scored six points and matched his career high with eight rebounds in his first career start at Central Oklahoma. He pulled eight rebounds at Newman. He had six points and six rebounds at Northeastern State. He scored five points with four rebounds against Mo. Southern. He had a career high ten points and was four of four from the field against Central Oklahoma. He was planning on red-shirting until injuries forced him to remove the red-shirt prior to the Fort Hays State game.
Previously
He averaged 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks per game as a junior at Gateway HS. He had several offers to play football at the NCAA Division I level.  Has been attending Coach Doty's Midwest Elite Basketball camps since grade school.

#22 MAYUOM BOUM
6-10 • RSFreshman • Center
Lincoln, Neb. • Lincoln Southwest HS
As a RS Freshman in 2020-21
He is ranked ninth in the MIAA in blocked shots. He is shooting .632 from the field on the year. He is averaging 11.1 points per game when he gets at least five shots. He was six of eight for 12 points against Northeastern State. He had 12 points on six of seven shooting against Northwest Missouri. He scored 17 points on seven of nine shooting with six rebounds in 22 minutes at Newman. He had eight rebounds and two blocks against Central Oklahoma. He scored ten points with three blocks against Missouri Southern. He had a career high 17 points on six of eight shooting with five rebounds against Pittsburg State. He scored seven points with six rebounds and two blocks in his first start at Missouri Western. He had eight points, six rebounds and two blocks at Wichita State. He scored ten points on five of six shooting against Lincoln. He had eight points, four rebounds and a blocked shot at Neb.-Kearney. He red-shirted last year with the Hornets.
Previously
He averaged 10.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks per game and shot 55% for Lincoln Southwest HS. He was the Lincoln city champion in the 400m during the track season for the Silver Hawks. He grew 11 inches from eighth grade to his senior year and did not turn 18 until November of 2019.

#23 MARQUIS MCCRAY
6-4 • Senior • Guard
Wichita, Kan. • Wichita Heights HS/Dodge City CC
As A RS-Senior in 2020-21
He had six points at Wichita State. He scored a career high ten points with five rebounds and four assists against Lincoln. He scored four points in six minutes at Fort Hays State.
As A Senior in 2019-20
He injured his ankle in the exhibition game at Kansas State in 2019 and received a medical redshirt.
As A Junior in 2018-19
He played in ten games in 2018-19. He had two assists in three minutes at Southwest Baptist. He scored a career high nine points with ten boards at Pittsburg State.    
Previously
He started 13 of 31 games for the Conquistadors as a sophomore and averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He averaged 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a senior at Wichita Heights HS.

#30 MASON THIESSEN
6-10 • Sophomore • Center
Inman, Kan. • Inman HS
As a Sophomore in 2020-21
He is fourth in the MIAA in blocked shots. He had six points at Pittsburg State before injuring his shoulder in the second half. He did not play at Washburn. He had 11 points and blocked two shots against Northeastern State. He scored 15 points with four blocked shots against Missouri Western. He had two blocked shots against Northwest Missouri. He had nine points and a block at Lincoln. He scored nine points with five rebounds against Washburn. He had two blocks against Pittsburg State. He scored eight points with six rebounds and a block at Northwest Missouri. He had two blocks at Missouri Western. He made four of five free throws and had two blocked shots against Central Missouri. He had six rebounds and two blocks at Northeastern State. He scored 11 points at Ft. Hays State. He scored seven points with five rebounds at Neb.-Kearney.
As a Freshman in 2019-20
He was sixth in the MIAA in blocked shots. He missed three of the last four games. He scored ten points with two blocks at Northeastern State. He had 13 points on five of five shooting from the field against Pittsburg State. He pulled eight rebounds at Central Missouri. He had ten points, six rebounds, four blocks and four assists against Newman. He pulled seven rebounds at Fort Hays State. He scored nine points on three of five shooting from the field with three rebounds and two blocks against Missouri Western. He went four of four from beyond the arc and was six of seven overall for 16 points against Neb.-Kearney. He pulled eight rebounds with two blocks against Rockhurst. He pulled six rebounds against Southwestern Oklahoma. He had nine rebounds with two blocks and a made three-pointer at Kansas State.
Previously
He averaged 22.0 points per game at the state tournament as Inman finished third in the state. He averaged 17.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game on the season. He earned first-team All-State honors as a senior after being named honorable mention All-State as a junior.

#32 NICK REID
6-7 • Freshman • Forward
Central City, Iowa • Central City HS
As a Freshman in 2020-21
He had five points against Central Oklahoma. He scored a career high nine points at Northwest Missouri. He scored three points with two assists against Newman. He hit his first shot as a Hornet and finished with eight points and three rebounds at Neb.-Kearney.
Previously
He was a two-time All-State selection after becoming the seventh Iowa high school player to score 2,000 points with 1,000 rebounds in a career. He averaged 27.9 points and 20.0 rebounds per game as a senior. He had a career high 76 points in a game as a junior.

#34 AUSTIN DOWNING
6-0 • Graduate • Guard
Atchinson, Kan. • Quincy/Neosho CC/Eudora HS
As a Senior in 2020-21
He is eighth in the MIAA in assists, ninth in assist to turnover ratio, and 18th in field goal percentage and scoring. He had 18 points, eight assists and just one turnover at Washburn. He scored 22 points with six assists at Pitt State. He has changed his number to #34 in honor of his grandfather, Kansas Sports Hall of Famer Chic Downing, who passed away unexpectedly on February 23. He scored 13 points with seven assists and one turnover in his first game in #34. He scored 12 points with seven assists against Missouri Western. He had a career high 23 points on ten of 16 shooting against Northwest Missouri. He had 15 points and six assists against Washburn. He scored 15 points with seven rebound against Central Oklahoma. He scored 14 points with seven assists against Pittsburg State. He had 17 points at Northwest Missouri. He scored 16 points with five assists and two steals against Central Missouri. He had four assists at Wichita State. He scored 15 points at Northeastern State. He had 19 points and three steals at Fort Hays State. He scored team high 14 points with five assists at Neb.-Kearney.
Previously
He averaged 12.2 points and 4.9 assists in 18 games for the Hawks before an ankle injury ended his season. He had 21 points, ten rebounds and six assists in a win over Illinois-Springfield right before the injury. He played in five games in 2018-19, averaging 11.2 points per game before a shoulder injury forced him into a medical redshirt. He averaged 15.1 points and 4.6 assists per game as a sophomore at Neosho CC with a career highs of 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. The Atchinson, Kan. native was a First-Team All-Frontier League selection and averaged 15 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5 assists per game at Eudora HS.

#20 BEN SMITH
6-6 • Sophomore • Forward
Edmond, Okla. • Western Texas CC/Edmond Santa Fe HS
As a Sophomore in 2020-21
He injured his knee against Lincoln and has missed the last five games. He is shooting .510 from the field on the season. He had six rebounds at Lincoln. He scored ten points at Newman. He scored nine points with six rebounds against Central Oklahoma. He had a career high 12 points with three dunks in just 13 minutes against Lincoln. He had a dunk and three rebounds at Fort Hays State.
Previously
He averaged 8.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a freshman at Western Texas CC. Those numbers went up to 10.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in his 17 starts. He had a season high 31 points against Frank Phillips College. He was ranked in the top ten of Oklahoma HS prospects by OKPreps as a senior at Edmond Santa Fe HS and earned Big All-City honors from The Daily Oklahoman.

#24 BRENDEN VAN DYKE
6-8 • Senior • Forward
Avondale, Ariz. • Westview HS/Cowley CC
As A Senior in 2020-21
He injured his knee injury at Wichita State and is now out for the season. He scored ten points with eight rebounds at Northeastern State. He had five points, four rebounds, an assists, a steal, and a block at Fort Hays State. He had eight points, five rebounds and a career high three steals at Neb.-Kearney in his first action since injuring his knee last year.
As a Junior in 2019-20
He was second in the MIAA in blocked shots and ninth in rebounding when he dropped out of the league leaders after injuring his knee against Missouri Western. He scored 14 points on six of seven shooting against Northwest Missouri. He scored a career high 16 points with six rebounds, three blocks and three assists against Baker. He scored 11 points on four of five shooting and had six rebounds against Fort Hays State. He pulled 11 rebounds against William Jewell. He scored 15 points at Arkansas Tech. He had 13 points and 11 boards against Southwestern Okla. He scored 11 points with three rebounds at Kansas State.
Previously
He averaged 13.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 29 games as a sophomore at Cowley CC. He was a First-Team All-Jayhawk East and Second-Team All-Region VI performer. He averaged 14.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game as a senior at Westview HS.

HOW DO YOU SAY THAT
Jumah'Ri Turner        Jah-ma-ree
Kong Kong        Kong Kong
Mayuom Buom        My-oom Boom
Marquis McCray        Mar-kees
Mason Thiessen        Tee-sen