Men's Basketball | 2/13/2026 11:34:00 AM

GAME 25
Emporia State (8-16, 4-11 MIAA) at Neb.-Kearney (12-14, 5-10 MIAA)
Saturday, February 14 • 4:00 p.m. • Kearney, Neb. • Health & Sports Center
Series Record: Series Tied at 26-26 • Last Meeting: at ESU 82, UNK 79 (Jan. 10, 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: Newman • 7:30 p.m. • February 21 • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium

VALENTINE's DAY SHOWDOWN 
Emporia State travels to Neb.-Kearney for key MIAA showdown.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 8-16, 4-11 in the MIAA and have played the fourth toughest schedule in the country. They are fourth in the MIAA in made three-pointers per game. Chris Harris leads the Hornets at 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Trey Redd is second in the MIAA in assist to turnover ratio. Four of their losses have been by five points or less. 

ABOUT THE LOPERS
Neb.-Kearney is 12-14, 5-10 in the MIAA. They lead the MIAA and are sixth in the nation in free throw percentage. Ja'Bryant Hill is their leading scorer at 17.0 points per game.

ABOUT THE COACHES
Tom Billeter is 509-308 in his 28th season as a head coach and is 19-34 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 1-2 against the Lopers at Emporia State while he is 5-5 against UNK overall.
Marty Levinson is 24-30 in his second year at Neb.-Kearney and 119-84 in seven years overall. He is 2-1 against Emporia State.

SERIES HISTORY WITH THE LOPERS
This will be the 53rd meeting between the two teams with the series tied 26-26 all-time. Emporia State leads 12-9 in MIAA play and has won six of the last nine games in the series.

LAST TIME VS NEB.-KEARNEY
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.

LAST TIME OUT
Fort Hays State had an 18-6 edge in points off turnvoers in a 62-56 win over Emporia State on Thursday in Hays, Kan.
The Hornets jumped out to a 9-1 lead to start the game and led 22-14 with 8:56 left on a Chriss Harris three-pointer.  That would be the last score for Emporia State until Elijah Wilhelm scored with 41 seconds left.  The defense was able to limit the Tigers to just eight points during that time and ESU took a 24-22 lead into the break.  FHSU opened the second half with a 12-3 run to take a 34-27 lead with 14:35 left. A 7-0 spurt gave the Tigers their biggest lead at 43-32 with 8:29 remaining. The Hornets cut the lead to 45-41 with 3:10 left but FHSU went eight of nine from the free throw line in the final 1:15 to ice the win.
Trey Redd had a team high 12 points and was joined in dobule figures by Mason Jones with 11 points. Chris Harris had seven points and ten rebounds before exiting the game with an ankle injury 9:12 left.
 
UP NEXT
The Hornets return to White Auditorium on Saturday, February 21 to take on Newman. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m.

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