Men's Basketball | 1/14/2026 9:40:00 AM

GAME 16
Emporia State (5-10, 1-5 MIAA) vs. #1 WASHBURN (16-0, 6-0 MIAA)
Thursday, January 15 • 7:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium
Series Record: WU leads 116-109 • Last Meeting: at #1 WU 91, ESU 66 (Jan. 3, 2026)
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: Central Missouri • 3:30 p.m. • January 17 • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium

TURNPIKE TUSSLE TIME 
Emporia State plays host to top ranked Washburn in White Auditorium in the second Turnpike Tussle in 12 days.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 5-10, 1-5 in the MIAA. Chris Harris leads the Hornets at 12.8 points while Treyvon Taylor averages 4.9 rebounds per game. Four of their losses have been by five points or less. 

ABOUT THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 16-0, 6-0 in the MIAA and ranked #1 in the nation. They lead the nation in scoring margin while playing the eighth toughest schedule. Jeremiah Jones leads the nation in steals while Jack Bachelor is fourth nationally in assist/turnover ratio.

ABOUT THE COACHES
Tom Billeter is 506-302 in his 28th season as a head coach and is 16-28 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 2-5 against Washburn, going 2-2 while at Augie.
Brett Ballard is 183-79 in his ninth year at Washburn, 216-109 in his 11th year overall. He is 10-6 against Emporia State.

SERIES HISTORY WITH THE ICHABODS
According to Emporia State records this will be the 226th meeting between the two schools with Washburn leading 116-109. The Ichabod two wins last season snapped a four game Hornet winning streak in the series.

TUSSLE TID-BIT
When competitions in football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball and women's soccer are added together Emporia State holds a 598-458-8 (.566) all-time advantage over Washburn.   

LAST TIME VS WASHBURN
Emporia State played a tightly contested first half before top-ranked Washburn pulled away in the second half for a 91-66 Ichabod victory. The Hornets trailed 16-12 with 14:16 left when they went on a 14-5 run to take their largest lead at 26-21. ESU turned the ball over five times in the final 5:14 of the half, leading to 13 Ichabod points as Washburn took a 45-39 lead into the lockerrooms. WU scored the first seven points of the second half to go up 52-39 and ESU would not get closer than 11 points the rest of the way. Chris Harris scored 19 points and Andrew Pengel added 11 points. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets scored 46 second half points on their way to an 82-79 win over Neb.-Kearney. The Lopers led 33-21 with 4:21 left before Emporia State ended the half on a 15-4 run to trail by one at the break. UNK led 51-44 with 15:41 to go in the game. Over the next nine minutes, Emporia State climbed back until a Dallas Bear three with 6:37 left put the Hornets ahead 63-61. It was the first of four triples by Bear in the final seven minutes, with the final one putting Emporia State ahead 76-71 with 52 seconds remaining. The Hornets then made six of eight free throws to ice the win. Bear had a career high 24 points and was joined in double figures by Treyvon Taylor with 17 points and 12 rebounds, Trey Redd with 13 points and Chris Harris with ten.

TAKING ON #1
This will be the tenth time Emporia State has played a team ranked #1 in the NABC Division II national poll.  The Hornets are 1-8 in their previous nine contests, knocking off then #1 Northwest Missouri 74-65 on December 17, 2022 in White Auditorium for their lone win.  Four of their eight losses have been by 11 points or fewer including an 83-72 loss to the then #1 Ichabods in Lee Arena on January 15, 2025.

UP NEXT
The Hornets wrap up a four game home stand on Saturday against Central Missouri. Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 3:30 p.m.

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