Men's Basketball | 1/7/2026 11:31:00 AM
GAME 14
Emporia State (4-9, 0-4 MIAA) vs. Fort Hays State (10-4, 2-3 MIAA)
Thursday, January 8 • 7:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium
Series Record: FHSU leads 105-88 •
Last Meeting: at ESU 58, FHSU 44 (Feb. 13, 2025)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM
Internet Audio:
kvoe.com |
Television: None |
Internet Video:
The MIAA Network
Live Stats |
Ticket Info |
Complete Game Notes in pdf
Up Next: Neb.-Kearney • 1:30 p.m. • January 10 • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium
HOME AGAIN
Emporia State returns to White Auditorium to take on Fort Hays State in the first game of a four game home stand.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 4-9, 0-4 in the MIAA. The Hornets have scored at least 70 points in 11 of 13 games this season. Nine different players have scored in double figures.
Andrew Pengel is the top scorer at 13.2 points per game.
Chris Harris adds 12.2 points and 4.3 rebounds.
Trey Redd is averaging 4.4 assists.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 10-4, 2-3 in the MIAA. They are second in the nation in scoring defense. Dan Mukuna averages 18.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while ranking eighth in the nation in field goal percentage.
ABOUT THE COACHES
Tom Billeter is 505-301 in his 28th season as a head coach and is 15-27 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 Fort Hays State at ESU and went 0-2 against FHSU while at NDSU.
Mark Johnson is 483-234 in his 25th year at Fort Hays State. He is 26-12 against Emporia State.
SERIES HISTORY WITH THE TIGERS
This will be the 195th meeting between the two with Fort Hays State holding a 105-89 lead. It is the third most played series for Emporia State behind Washburn and Pittsburg State.
LAST TIME VS FORT HAYS STATE
In a rock fight of a game, Emporia State used an early 9-2 run to take control on the way to a 58-44 win over Fort Hays State in White Auditorium.
The Tigers scored first to open the action and led 5-4 on a Kaleb Hammeke three-pointer with 16:40 left in the first half. Neither team would score over the next three and a half minutes until
Brayson Laube hit a step back jumper to give the Hornets a 6-5 lead with 13:09 left. Emporia State led 10-8 following a Hammeke three-pointer for FHSU midway through the first half. The Hornets then went on a 9-2 run capped by a
Chris Harris break away dunk with 6:41 left. Harris would hit a three-pointer with 1:01 left to give Emporia State a 32-19 lead but Fort Hays State scored the final three points with Shaun Riley beating the buzzer on a layup to make it 32-22 at the half. Riley hit a free throw and Kyle Grill scored inside to extend the Tigers run to 6-0 as they trailed 32-25 with 18:37 left. The Hornets answered by holding the Tigers without a field goal for the next 7:24. ESU used an 11-0 run to take a 43-25 lead with 14:17 left. Riley snapped the run with a pair of free throws at the 13:49 mark.
Devin Conley scored on a pull up jumper with 10:27 left to give Emporia State a 45-30 lead. The Tigers would not get closer than 12 points the rest of the night as the Hornets cruised to the 58-44 victory.
Arhman Lewis scored 14 points to lead a balanced Hornet offense.
Karyiek Dixon added eight points and a team high ten rebounds while
Chris Harris and
Justin Mack each scored eight as well.
Parker Day had nine rebounds to go with two blocked shots and four points.
LAST TIME OUT
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 at the first media timeout with 14:16 left in the half when they went on a 6-0 run to take an 18-16 lead on a
Chris Harris dunk with 13:11 left.
Andrew Pengel hit a three-pointer with 9:50 left to cap a 14-5 run and give Emporia State their largest lead at 26-21. The Hornets 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 cap a 10-0 run that spanned the break to go up 52-39 and the Hornets would not get closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
Chris Harris scored 19 points to lead the Hornets and
Andrew Pengel added 11 points.
Mason Wujek had a team high seven rebounds while
Trey Redd dished five assists.
UP NEXT
The Hornets play host to Neb.-Kearney in the MIAA TV Game of the Week on Saturday. Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 1:30 p.m. with the Lady Hornets to follow.
