Neutral Site Match Up Between Emporia State and Lincoln in Kansas City

Hornets and Blue Tigers to meet at Mabee Center on Avila campus

2025-26 Emporia State Men's Basketball Game Notes Graphic vs Lincoln

Men's Basketball | 11/21/2025 11:56:00 AM

GAME 4
Emporia State (1-2, 0-0 MIAA) vs. Lincoln (3-0, 0-0 GLVC)

Saturday, November 22 • 12:00 p.m. • Kansas City, Mo. • Mabee Fieldhouse (Avila)
Series Record: ESU leads 23-15 • Last Meeting: LU 59, ESU 55 (3/6/2024 - MIAA Tourney)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM 
Internet Audio: kvoe.com | Television: None | Internet Video: TBA
Live Stats | Ticket Info - ALL FREE | Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at Okla. Baptist • 3:00 p.m. • November 28 • Shawnee, Okla. • Noble Complex

KANSAS CITY HERE WE COME
Emporia State takes on Lincoln in a neutral site contest from the Mabee Center on the campus of Avila University in Kansas City, Mo.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 1-2 on the season. Seven different players have scored in double figures this season. Andrew Pengel is the top scorer at 15.0 points per game after being held to four points against Jewell. Dallas Bear is averaging 12.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while Chris Harris adds 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds. Trey Redd is averaging 3.3 assists per game.

ABOUT THE BLUE TIGERS
Lincoln is 3-0 after opening the season with two wins in Puerto Rico and a home win over Hannibal-LaGrange. Former Hornet Solomon Oraegbu is leading the Blue Tigers in scoring at 13.4 points per game off the bench. 

ABOUT THE COACHES
Tom Billeter is 502-294 in his 28th season as a head coach and is 12-20 in his second season at Emporia State after going 394-224 in 21 years at Augustana. With the Vikings he won the 2016 National Championship, went to nine NCAA Tournaments, won three regular season NSIC Championships, two NSIC Tourney Championships, and 18 consecutive winning seasons. This is his first meeting with Lincoln.
Jimmy Drew is 58-34 in his fourth year at Lincoln. He is 2-4 against Emporia State.

LAST TIME VS LINCOLN
In a game that saw nine ties and 13 lead changes Emporia State saw their season come to an end with a 59-55 loss to Lincoln in the MIAA Tournament.
The Hornets scored the first four points of the night and that would be the biggest lead by either team until the Hornets used a 9-1 run to take the biggest lead of the night at 22-14 with 9:03 left in the half.  The lead would still be eight points with 1:36 left when Owen Long grabbed a rebound and went coast to coast to score with 1:36 left to make it 31-23.  Lincoln ended the half on a 5-1 mini-run trail 32-28 at the break.
After Atavian Butler scored for the Hornets with 19:05 to make it 34-30 and Frank Yetna answered with a dunk at the 18:40 mark neither team would lead by more than one possession until Lincoln hit two free throws with 2.4 seconds left for the final margin.
Owen Long led Emporia State with 16 points while Alijah Comithier scored 12 points with 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. 

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State holds a 23-14 lead in the series after winning six of the last seven meetings.

UP NEXT
The Hornets will spend Thanksgiving in Oklahoma, playing at Okla. Baptist on Friday and at Northwestern Okla. on Saturday.

Complete Notes available here
Follow the Hornets on Social Media
X/Twitter: @ESUSports   
Instagram: emporiastatesports
Facebook: EmporiaStateAthletics 
YouTube: ESUAthletics
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Dallas Bear

#3 Dallas Bear

F
6' 7"
Junior
Chris Harris

#23 Chris Harris

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Trey Redd

#2 Trey Redd

G
5' 10"
Senior
Andrew Pengel

#21 Andrew Pengel

G
6' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Dallas Bear

#3 Dallas Bear

6' 7"
Junior
F
Chris Harris

#23 Chris Harris

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
Trey Redd

#2 Trey Redd

5' 10"
Senior
G
Andrew Pengel

#21 Andrew Pengel

6' 2"
Junior
G