Men’s Basketball | ESU Bulletin

Freshman guard Terrence Moore pushes past a Washburn Ichabod Feb. 28. The Hornets overcame their rivals 61-55.
Will Austin/The Bulletin

In a rollercoaster season, the men’s basketball team finished the year with heartbreakers.

In their first home MIAA playoff game in history, the Hornets suffered a 68-66 loss in the final seconds March 4 against Missouri Southern.

After controlling the floor throughout most of the game, ESU gave up the lead for the first time with just under eight minutes to go in the game.

After a turnover by Gavin Brown and a loose ball foul, Missouri Southern hit the two game-winning free throws to knock the Hornets out of post-season play.

Despite the first round loss, the men finished the season with four MIAA honors, the most since 2007. Paul Bunch made the all-defensive team as well as honorable mention ALL-MIAA. Kaleb Wright and Chris Sights also paved their way to the ALL-MIAA honorable mention team.

The Lady Hornets also had three players earn ALL-MIAA honors, after winning 11 of the last 13 games in the regular season to secure a bye in the opening round of the MIAA tournament.

Rachel Hanf landed second-team honors, Laura Patrick earned third-team honors and Merissa Quick received honorable-mention honors.

Men swallow tough loss

Senior guard Taylor Euler puts up an easy two against Northeastern State University on Saturday, Feb. 23. The close game ended in a 67-62 loss for the Hornets.
Will Austin/The Bulletin

Jump out early and struggle to close out games – that has been the formula for almost every loss the Hornets basketball team have taken this season. The Northeastern State game was no different, as they suffered a 67-63 loss to during alumni weekend.

“We just want to keep the tradition any time we get a chance to play for the guys who paved the way for us,” said Chris Sights, senior guard, “and today we just came up a little short.”

From the start, the Hornets looked inside to Paul Bunch, junior center, who scored six of the first eight points as they gained to an 8-5 start.

As the ball drifted out of Bunch’s hands, the Hornets began to slip away on the scoreboard. After being down by as much as six points, the Hornets regained the lead with a corner three-pointer by Gavin Brown, junior forward, just before the half, 33-32.

The RiverHawks swept the lead in the second half after an early run, but the Hornets hung on. Terrence Moore, freshman guard, became the go-to guy and regained a 53-51 Hornet lead with 7:54 to go.

“I had to step up,” Moore said. “(It was) just players making plays – (being a) freshman doesn’t mean anything. It’s just making plays.”

The RiverHawks controlled the rest of the game with some clutch free throws to seal the deal. As the leading free-throw shooting team in the league, they shot over 90 percent for the game.

“When you have a chance to finish off a team and don’t, it’s frustrating,” said Shaun Vandiver, head coach. “When things got tough we fractured; we didn’t stick together.”

Moore finished with 13 points. Bunch scored 12 inside to add to his seven rebounds and seven blocks. Brown scored 11 points.

“We got guys on our team that just sit back and wait – we can’t do that. We (have) got to show up,” Vandiver said.

Men suffer tough loss at home

Freshman guard Tre Boutlier lays up two early against University of Central Oklahoma on Sunday, Jan. 27. The defeat for the Hornets brought them to an overall record of 8-8.
Will Austin/The Bulletin

After a close loss Sunday against the Central Oklahoma Bronchos, 77-71, men’s basketball head coach Shaun Vandiver said he was “frustrated.”

“You go up nine (points), and you leave a guy like (Cal) Andrews open,” Vandiver said.

“That’s what happens with young guys – you get satisfied.”

From the start, the Bronchos had the upper hand. It wasn’t until there were only five minutes left in the first half that the Hornets took their first lead, thanks to Daniel Shaw, sophomore forward, who made a free-throw, boosting the score to 27-26.

Emporia State went in to the locker room at the half with a 35-32 lead, which was led by Chris Sights, senior guard, who had eight points in the first half.

A fourth consecutive victory seemed to be in reach, as the Hornets held off the Bronchos throughout the beginning of the second half. A tip-in by Paul Bunch, junior center, gave the Hornets the largest lead of the game of nine points.

That’s when Cal Andrews of Central Oklahoma nailed three three-pointers to tie the score, 55-55, with 10 minutes left in the game.

Just 20 seconds later, the Hornets regained the lead with a three-pointer by Sights, and after a layup by Terrence Moore, freshman guard, the Hornets found themselves up, 60-55, with nine minutes left to go.

But like most young teams, the Hornets struggled to finish. The Bronchos took the lead again with a little over five minutes left and never looked back.

“We always want to give our fans a good showing and win, but just mental breakdowns cost us,” Sights, a recreation major, said. “We do a great job of getting leads, but we got to finish,” said Sights, a recreation major.

Bunch, criminal justice and delinquencies major, said the Hornets’ biggest downfalls were “lack of communication, lack of energy and effort.”

“Our rotation on defense needs be crisper than that,” Bunch said.

Sights led the way for the Hornets with 16 points in the losing effort. Bunch led the Hornets with eight rebounds, and he also scored 14 points and had five blocks.

“Now, you have to dust yourself off,” Vandiver said.

The Hornets take on Northwest Missouri State at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 2 in Maryville, Mo.

Hornets swarm Griffon, 71-60

Junior center Paul Bunch dunks against Missouri Western on Sunday. The men took a 71-60 victory.
Will Austin/The Bulletin

Four Hornets reached double figures against the Missouri Western Griffons Sunday afternoon at White Auditorium. Emporia State won 71-60.

“That is what basketball is about, when you can pass up a good shot for a great shot, that is what it is all about,” said head coach Shaun Vandiver.

The men never had complete control in the game, fighting to the end. The Griffons took the first lead of the game, but Chris Sights, senior guard, regained the lead with a 3-pointer over a minute later.

Both teams battled back and forth the entire half with three ties and three lead changes before the Hornets went into the half with a 30-22 lead.

Sights scored 11 of his team high 17 points in the second half. This helped the Hornets maintain the lead throughout the entire half.

“I give the credit to my teammates,” Sights, a recreation major, said. “When they have confidence in me, they pass me the ball and I just let it fly.”

Gavin Brown recorded his second straight double-double with 13 points on the inside and hauled in 10 rebounds for the night. Paul Bunch also recorded double-digits with 11 points from inside with seven rebounds.

After two straight victories, ESU moves to a 7-7 record, but they still are not done, according to Bunch.

“This is just one notch on the belt,” Bunch, junior center, and criminal justice and delinquencies major, said. “After Truman, we vowed we were not going to lose at home and we would go four for four during this stretch. We are not done yet.”

Men pounce Tigers

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Pulling away in the final five minutes of the game, the Emporia State men’s basketball team won their home opener Wednesday night, 74-60, against the Tigers of Central Christian College.

“It was a game of runs. I don’t think we came out and played our best ball,” said Head Coach Shaun Vandiver. “We can’t come on and put it on in two or three minute spurts – you have to come out and turn it on. You got to have long runs to knock people out.”

Kaleb Wright, junior guard and physical education major, led the team in the first half with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists. Chris Sights, senior guard, added five points, four assists and two rebounds to help the Hornets gain a 36-23 lead at the half. The Hornets dominated Central Christian on the board, out-rebounding them 23-10 in the first half.

“Defensively, our guards get caught up in standing around watching the ball, and we forget that we have to help the bigs like the bigs help us,” Wright said.

The second half started off slow with neither team scoring in the first few minutes. Fouls became an issue for the Hornets, racking up four in the first four minutes compared to the Tigers’ one.

Following the Lady Hornets’ 16th home opening win the previous night, the men were able to pull out their 14th home opening win, shooting almost 50 percent from the field. Daniel Shaw, forward and sophomore economics major, added 13 points with three rebounds, making 5-5 from the free throw line.

“We had a game last week and we needed to work on our free throws after that, so we have been doing a lot of free throws,” Shaw said. “We just need to keep working on what we have been doing and work on defensive principals. The defense is what keeps fueling us.”

Wright also made three shots beyond the arc, helping the Hornets finally get a confortable lead in the last five minutes. Wright was player of the game.

“I have to tip my hat to my team – they trusted me with the ball,” Wright said.

The Hornets travel to Monmouth, Ore. this weekend to take on Saint Martins University and Western Oregon State University.

Hornets come up short in Turnpike Tussle

Senior forward and center Troy Pierce fights against several Ichabod defenders for a layup last night at White Auditorium. The Hornets fell to the Bods, 60-68. Yo Han Kim/The Bulletin

The Hornets basketball team hosted the Washburn Ichabods on senior night in the annual Turnpike Tussle at White Auditorium last night but lost, 60-68. Jim Fraley had his number 14 jersey retired. Tola Lawal, Troy Pierce, Antonio DiMaria and Christian Simmons are the seniors on the squad. To open the game, junior Chris Sights drained a three-point shot from the corner to jump out to an early lead. Both teams flexed their muscles as neither team could get open looks at the basket. Midway through the half, the score was 11-7, Washburn.

Simmons provided energy to the Hornets lineup as he scored four straight points to help pull within nine, 11-20. He then added two assists to fellow senior Troy Pierce for two straight baskets to narrow the lead 15-20 with four minutes left. The Ichabods followed the 8-0 Emporia run with a 6-0 run of their own. They would continue to stretch the lead, 19-33, to end the half.

“We have a never give up mentality,” Pierce said. “It has to be our mentality for the rest of the season.”

The Hornets came out fired up as senior Antonio DiMario hit a three-pointer to cap a 5-0 run. This closed the gap, 24-33. Lawal tried to pump up the team as he hit a jumper from 15 feet away to pull the game within 11 points, 33-44, with nine minutes left.

“We started getting the ball inside,” Simmons said. “When we get the ball inside, it opens up the outside shooters. We made some shots to make it close.”

The senior leadership on the team continued to push for energy and hustle. Seniors Lawal and Pierce refused to quit. They crashed the boards and continued to play aggressive defense. The Hornets would pull within six points with two minutes remaining in the game, but that would be as close as they would get to victory.

“Right now we need to work on not spotting teams leads,” said head coach Shawn Vandiver. “I have to do a better job of time management and not letting leads get out of hand.”

Marcus Hix

SWA Group Wins Design Competition for Major Redevelopment in Nanjing, China.

Health & Beauty Close-Up June 16, 2010 SWA Group said that its competition entry for a transformative 7-kilometer swath of Yangtze River waterfront of the Hexi New Town in Nanjing, China, was selected from among the four finalist teams and will begin detailed design in July toward anticipated initial construction in 2011.

“Nanjing is one of China’s most ancient metropolitan centers, and Hexi New Town will accommodate Nanjing’s continued growth as the capital of Jiangsu Province and the largest commercial center in the region, while further attracting global investors and international clients,” said Scott Slaney, Houston-based principal of SWA and lead designer on the project. lagunabeachcanow.com laguna beach ca

As described by the Company, Nanjing Hexi will include:

– a 75-hectare (185 acre) Yangtze EcoPark at the convergence of the Yangtze, Jiajiang and Qinhuaixin Rivers that will include a major mixed-use development with eco-hotel, shopping, housing and office space;

– a 25-hectare (62.5 acre) Art Park featuring an international art museum from a world-class architect to attract 3 million annual visitors, and would include associated museum lofts.

– a 5 hectare (12.5 acre) site to include a Yangtze River Anthropology Museum;

– a 64-hectare (160 acre) Hexi Plaza which will be the cultural epicenter of Hexi Riverfront Park including a performing arts center and other entertainment, retail, residential, office and waterfront uses;

– a 17-hectare (42.5 acre) Waterworks Park featuring family-entertainment, urban agriculture, tea follies, tourism and educational aspects.

“Nanjing Hexi has the opportunity to become one of the world’s great urban riverfronts by attracting people to it as an amenity of beauty, recreation, culture and commerce,” said Slaney. “The plan also addresses regional and national objectives including natural resource preservation, environmental regeneration, economic vitality and social equity while maintaining flood protection and celebrating the beauty and history of the Yangtze River.” A former brownfield site, Nanjing Hexi utilizes environmental originality including manmade wetlands along the waterfront to help cleanse the river, which has high levels of suspended solids and chemicals. To kick-start the growth of wetlands and speed up the water-polishing process, thousands of strips of man-made bio-film will be “planted” along the water’s edge and in small islands. this web site laguna beach ca

Nanjing Hexi aims to gain prominence on the global stage with a fine arts museum at the heart of the Art Park in the dramatic bend of the Jiajiang River. This International Museum of Fine Art, China’s first international fine arts museum, is planned to be designed by an architect for housing contemporary pieces from China and also art exhibits from around the world.

Nanjing Hexi will also feature a Museum of Anthropology with exhibits to teach the history of human settlement along the Yangtze; an “eco hotel” with traditional rooms and rooms within the wetland park accessed by boat or from a boardwalk; and expansive waterfront promenades to maintain a human, walkable scale to the development.

SWA Group is an international landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm. SWA has offices in Sausalito, CA, Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, CA, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Shanghai and Dubai.

((Comments on this story may be sent to health@closeupmedia.com))

Hornets come up short in Turnpike Tussle

The Hornets basketball team hosted the Washburn Ichabods on senior night in the annual Turnpike Tussle at White Auditorium last night but lost, 60-68. Jim Fraley had his number 14 jersey retired. Tola Lawal, Troy Pierce, Antonio DiMaria and Christian Simmons are the seniors on the squad.

To open the game, junior Chris Sights drained a three-point shot from the corner to jump out to an early lead. Both teams flexed their muscles as neither team could get open looks at the basket. Midway through the half, the score was 11-7, Washburn.

Simmons provided energy to the Hornets lineup as he scored four straight points to help pull within nine, 11-20. He then added two assists to fellow senior Troy Pierce for two straight baskets to narrow the lead 15-20 with four minutes left. The Ichabods followed the 8-0 Emporia run with a 6-0 run of their own. They would continue to stretch the lead, 19-33, to end the half.

“We have a never give up mentality,” Pierce said. “It has to be our mentality for the rest of the season.”

The Hornets came out fired up as senior Antonio DiMario hit a three-pointer to cap a 5-0 run. This closed the gap, 24-33. Lawal tried to pump up the team as he hit a jumper from 15 feet away to pull the game within 11 points, 33-44, with nine minutes left.

“We started getting the ball inside,” Simmons said. “When we get the ball inside, it opens up the outside shooters. We made some shots to make it close.”

The senior leadership on the team continued to push for energy and hustle. Seniors Lawal and Pierce refused to quit. They crashed the boards and continued to play aggressive defense. The Hornets would pull within six points with two minutes remaining in the game, but that would be as close as they would get to victory.

“Right now we need to work on not spotting teams leads,” said head coach Shawn Vandiver. “I have to do a better job of time management and not letting leads get out of hand.”

Marcus Hix/The Bulletin

Men lose hard fight against Mo. Southern

On Saturday, the Hornets took on the Missouri Southern Lions at White Auditorium. In a close game, the Hornets lost to the Lions, 57-61.

“Coach V’s (Vandiver) motto is ‘never stop fighting,’” said junior guard Chris Sights. “Tonight we did that. This shows that we can go out and compete with anybody, no matter the rankings. Rankings really do not mean anything – it is about our heart.”

The game started with the ball in ESU’s possession, and sophomore guard Travis Dykman drained a three, followed by a three by senior forward and center Antonio DiMaria, making the score, 6-2, two minutes in.

The Hornets played strong defensively, but the flow offensively slowed down, and the defensive pressure let up a bit as the Lions took the lead with about 11 minutes left, 13-18.

Center Troy Pierce was a verbal leader on the floor. With three minutes left in the first half, the Hornets were down 23-31. The points were spread among the players, and DiMaria and Sights added three-pointers to make the score 31-36 with 30 seconds left in the half. At the end of the first half, the Hornets trailed, 33-36.

“I’m happy we bounced back from Wednesday’s game and put out the right type of effort,” said Shaun Vandiver, head coach. “It is all about wins and losses right now, and we just need to get back on the right track.”

In the second half, the Hornets were sloppy with the ball for a few possessions, but Sights drove the lane for an easy two points, pulling the score to 40-42. Emporia was pumped up and cheered each other on as DiMaria sank a three-pointer, ending the game with 17 points and going four for six from behind the three-point line.

“Every game is important for us,” DiMaria said. “We knew the last couple of games we have not come out strong, and we were not going to let that happen this night.”

Going to a zone defense, the Hornets frustrated the Lions’ offense. Sights drove the ball between two defenders for a bucket, and at the four minute mark, the score was close at 53-52, with ESU on top. With three minutes left, Missouri took back the lead. The Hornets fell 57-61.

“This is the hardest we have played in a long time on a consistent basis,” Sights said. “We just came up short.”

Chelsie Slaughter

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Hornet men fall short to Bearcats

Freshman forward Justin Ikhide goes for a layup against Southwestern Baptist last night. The Hornets lost to the Bearcats 65-77 at White Auditorium. Yo Han Kim/The Bulletin

The Hornets took on the Southwest Baptist Bearcats last night in the White Auditorium downtown for the 43rd time. Emporia lost to the Bearcats, 65-77.

“At the end of the day we did not have the same intensity,” said Shaun Vandiver, head coach.

Emporia won the tipoff getting the Hornets off to a good start. Senior forward and center Troy Pierce got the first two points of the game. Putting the Hornets in the lead 5-3, junior Chris Sights nailed a deep three, and Pierce backed his way in the lane for another bucket.

The Hornets came out with smiles, as they were playing together as a team and encouraging each other on the court. The crowd erupted in cheer in the first half when ESU defense caused the Bearcats to take a shot clock violation.

Senior guard Tola Lawal stole the ball going coast to coast for two points, along with another bucket and a free throw. Lawal ended the game with 15 points of his own.

But the movement on the offensive end started losing momentum. With about five minutes left in the half, the Bearcats took the lead by five points. Tola continued to add points on the board along with Pierce, and although the Hornets started playing with more urgency towards the end of the half, they still went into the locker room trailing 29-31.

“It was tough without Taylor out there,” Vandiver said.

The Hornets started the second half with the ball trying to make a run on the Bearcats. Senior forward Christian Simmons slammed the ball in the basket, pumping up the team with his dunk.

Senior Antonio DiMaria drained his second three of the game, pulling the Hornets back within two points. Simmons took over the paint for the Hornets as he made two more buckets along with one free throw, ending the game with seven points. With about seven minutes left in the game, Pierce made two bucket, boosting the score to 49-56.

“We did not execute our game plan like Coach (Vandiver) told us to,” Pierce said. “We have a lot of things to get better at and we just need to fix those things.”

Lawal and Pierce continued to add points for Emporia, Pierce ending the game as leading scorer with 16 points and three rebounds. Sights buried a three to pull ESU within 10 points. The Hornets lost steam as the time wound down, ultimately falling to the Bearcats.

“I am happy with our work ethic, but I am not happy with our results,” Simmons said. “Never lose hope. We go into every game with the mindset that we are going to win.”

ESU will face Missouri Southern on at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 at home.

By Chelsie Slaughter

Hornet men fall short to Bearcats

Junior guard Chris Sights dribbles down the court during the game against Northwest Missouri State at White Auditorium. The Hornets fell to the Bearcats 45-71 on Sunday. Audrey Millard/The Bulletin

The Emporia State Hornets squared off against the Northwest Bearcats for their 57th time at William L. White Auditorium on Sunday. In a disappointing performance, the Hornets lost to the visiting Bearcats, 71-45.

“Shots did not fall,” said Head Coach Shaun Vandiver. “We need to put this back in the rear view, and get ready for Missouri Western. We need to get in the gym, get some shots up and get our confidence back.”

The Hornets failed to make a field goal for the first four minutes of the game until a two pointer from senior guard Tola Lawal, who ended the game scoring 12 points, the only Hornet to score in double figures. Junior guard Chris Sights followed with two of his own, tying the game.

Emporia fell short early as they could not get defensive stops against the Bearcat offense, giving up many offensive rebounds and second chance points. There was miscommunication on the offensive side for the Hornets as they struggled to capitalize on their offensive possessions.

“We could not hit our shots. Everything counts in the first half,” Lawal said. “We just have to bounce back and work hard.”

Lawal and Sights continued to put points on the board for the Hornets. With a low scoring first half, the Hornets trailed going into the locker room, 27-14.

Junior guard Taylor Euler swished a three pointer to start off the second half. The Hornets struggled to stop Bearcat penetration in the lane. Euler drained another three to pull Emporia within 10 points, 22-32, with 15:15 left in the game.

“We did not come ready to play,” Euler said. “They beat us in every aspect of the game tonight.”

Emporia called a timeout at 7:18, being down to Northwest Missouri 30-53. Lawal drove to the lane multiple times, getting many repetitions at the free throw line. Emporia struggled offensively on getting shots to fall as they fell short to the Bearcats and finished the game with 26.1 percent from the field, the worst of the season.

“We just have to go back to working hard,” Euler said. “We need to be locked in and focused every time we take the floor.”

Chelsie Slaughter