Trip to Northwest Missouri Starts MIAA Play for Emporia State Basketball

Men's Basketball | 12/3/2025 10:25:00 AM

GAME 7
Emporia State (2-4, 0-0 MIAA) at Northwest Missouri (6-3, 0-1 MIAA)
Thursday, December 4 • 7:30 p.m. • Maryville, Mo. • Bearcat Arena
Series Record: NWMSU leads 52-28 • Last Meeting: ESU 79, at NWMSU 67 (March 1, 2025)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM 
Internet Audio: kvoe.com | Television: None | Internet Video: The MIAA Network
Live Stats | Ticket Info | Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Missouri Western • 3:30 p.m. • December 6 • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium

TIME TO GET REAL
Emporia State opens MIAA play at Northwest Missouri. The Hornets are 19-15 in MIAA openers and have won eight of the last ten. They are 4-6 against NWMSU in MIAA openers.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 2-4 on the season. Eight different players have scored in double figures this season. Andrew Pengel is the top scorer at 15.0 points per game. Chris Harris adds 11.8 points and 5.2 rebounds. Trey Redd is averaging 4.3 assists per game.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri is 6-3, 0-1 in the MIAA. Aiden Gair leads three players in double figures at 13.7 points per game. Royce Williams averages 5.4 boards per game.

ABOUT THE COACHES
Tom Billeter is 503-296 in his 28th season as a head coach and is 13-22 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. He is 1-1 against Northwest Missouri at ESU  and went 2-4 against NWMSU while at Augie including a win in the 2016 NCAA Regional Championship game.
Matt Keeley is 12-25 in his second year at Northwest Missouri. He is 1-1 against Emporia State.

LAST TIME VS NORTHWEST MISSOURI
Emporia State punched their ticket to Kansas City with a 79-67 win at Northwest Missouri in Maryville, Mo.
The Hornets jumped out to a 6-1 lead and never trailed in the contest.  The Bearcats closed to within 29-28 with 5:18 left on a Marcus Glock layup but the Hornets used a 9-0 run to go up 43-31 with 29 seconds left on a Karyiek Dixon free throw.  A pair of free throw from Ja'Vion Byers pulled the Bearcats to within 43-33 at the break.
Emporia State's lead stayed between eight and 15 points for most of the second half until back to back threes from Parker Day and Chris Harris gave the Hornets their biggest lead at 78-60 with 1:39 left.
Karyiek Dixon led Emporia State with 20 points and a career high 15 rebounds.  He was joined in double figures by Chris Harris with 17 points, Brayson Laube and Arhman Lewis with 12 each and Malik Edwards with 11 points.

SERIES HISTORY WITH THE BEARCATS
This is the 81st meeting between Emporia State and Northwest Missouri with the Bearcats leading 52-28. The Hornets have won four of the last nine including three in a row in 2022. 

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State fought back from a 15 point deficit midway through the second half but could not finish off the comeback in an 85-83 loss at Northwestern Oklahoma.
Emporia State led 26-18 with 7:03 left in the first half when Northwestern Oklahoma went on a 21-0 run to take a 39-26 lead with 3:14 remaining in the half. The Rangers would lead 46-37 at the break. A Max Alexander free throw with 12:06 left gave NWOSU their biggest lead of the day at 67-52.  The Hornets then went on a 13-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Mason Jones with 9:12 left to get within 67-65.  Trey Redd hit a three-pointer followed by a layup from Treyvon Taylor to get ESU within a point and Andrew Pengel drilled a three-pointer to give the Hornets an 80-78 lead with 3:01 remaining. Alexander scored on a hoop and harm with 2:17 left to put the Rangers back ahead 81-80. Jones scored for Emporia State with 22.2 seconds left to tie the game at 83.  Alexander fit a pair of free throws with 5.5 seconds left to make it 85-83. The Hornets got the ball to midcourt and called timeout with 3.5 seconds left to set up a final play, but the inbounds pass was off line.
Chris Harris had a career high 23 points to lead three Hornets in double figures.  Andrew Pengel had 14 points and Jack Weigus added 11 points.  Trey Redd had a career high 12 assists.  Harris and Redd each had five rebounds for ESU. As a team Emporia State shot 33 of 59 from the field and hit 15 of 25 three-pointers but only went to the free throw line five times, hitting two.  Northwestern Oklahoma was 29 of 56 from the field and hit eight of 16 threes while connecting on 19 of 23 from the charity stripe.

UP NEXT
The Hornets make their MIAA home debut on Saturday, December 6 against Missouri Western. Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 3:30 p.m.