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

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But the Hornets struggled on the road as they fell 48-67. Their overall record now stands at 8-7.

“We just did not come locked in and focused,” said Shaun Vandiver. “When you come into an atmosphere like this, and you are not ready to play together as a team and share the ball and do the little things to help you win, this is what happens.”

The Hornets struggled early offensively running the shot clock down on multiple trips down the floor. Defensive  pressure was pursued by Emporia as they got back into the game with driving and dishing. A timeout at 9:20 allowed both teams to recover as the score was 15-12, Washburn. Many turnovers occurred for the Hornets allowing the Ichabods 18 points off of turnovers alone.

“I don’t think we took this game as personal as we should have,” junior guard Chris Sights said. “We hung our heads which is something we usually do not do.”

Junior forward Justin Ikhide helped the Hornets with some buckets in the paint. Going into the locker room at half time, the Hornets trailed 33-21.

“They pressed up, caused turnovers, and took over the game,” senior guard Tola Lawal said. “We need to learn from our mistakes.”

To begin the second half Emporia struggled immensely to put the ball in the hoop. A combination of missed opportunities and stout Washburn defense allowed the lead to be stretched. Washburn came into the game leading the league in steals and forced turnovers, which was no surprise to the Hornets.

“We need to focus and lock in from the beginning,” Sights said. “Washburn did a good job defensively. They are the number one team in the league in forcing turnovers and we knew that coming in.”

Vandiver said he was disappointed the Hornets did not put out a better effort to win the game, but the team has to learn from the experience.

“We need to emphasize the team right now and just stick together and we will be fine,” Vandiver said.

Chelsie Slaughter

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Courtesy Photo of Euler

The men’s basketball team features almost an entirely different roster from last year’s team, but one name remains constant – Taylor Euler. The junior communications major and guard has distinguished himself as a team leader.

“Taylor, at times, is another coach on the floor,” said Shaun Vandiver, head coach. “He has great feel, great understanding of the game. When get out of sorts, he’s calm…he’s a natural coach himself. He has natural leadership abilities.”

Euler began playing basketball at an early age along with football and running track. Growing up he looked to former ESU stars such as Wes Book, current assistant coach, as basketball role models.

“He (Book) played when I was in middle school,” Euler said. “Watching him, he had a really good team too, so that always got me excited to get to the high school level and try to accomplish things that he accomplished.”

Euler, a 2009 graduate of Emporia High, averaged 19.5 points and 3.9 assists in his final year. However, his junior year was the final year he was able to play with senior Troy Pierce, a current transfer to the team and former Spartan.

“That’s been really cool,” Euler said of reuniting with Pierce. “We played together growing up, and then we took about three years off from playing with each other. Now that we’re back, I thought it would be a little different, some things would change over the years apart, but nothing’s changed. I think we’re right where we left off from high school.”

Though Euler said nothing has changed, Pierce recognized the improvement in Euler since they last played together.

“We both came up in the same system,” Pierce said. “He brings everything you need for a basketball team… he’s matured a lot over the years since he was in high school, and since high school his game has developed a lot.”

When he first came to ESU, Euler made an immediate impact in starting six games and playing in all 29 his freshman season. His career high of 19 points came during his freshman year against Ottawa, a year in which he scored in the double figures nine times.

Known for his sharp shooting, three times in his career Euler has made four three-point shots in a single game. This season, Euler is shooting over 47 percent from behind the arc and grabbing nearly four rebounds a game for the Hornets. In their game against Bethany, Euler put up 16 points, making three of six from behind the arc in the game.

“(His three point shooting) helps tremendously,” Vandiver said. “Especially when we go small, and he’s on the court with (Chris) Sights and (Derrell) Conner who are able to penetrate and kick it and he’s able to knock down shots. He’s a good counterpart to Derrell Conner.”

The Hornets will need that deep threat as they face Missouri Western at 3:30 p.m. this Saturday in St. Joseph, Mo.

Brandon Schneeberger

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Moe

coach who holds the third most wins in ESU history made the announcement early last week that he would be stepping down as the Hornets’ head coach in order to spend time with his family.

“It has been difficult for me and for my family to be separated for long periods of time throughout the year,” Moe said. “Trying to balance the responsibilities of being the head basketball coach at Emporia State and my responsibilities as a husband and a father has become more difficult as I see my sons and daughter grow up.”

Moe, who holds a 162-126 record during his tenure at ESU, will remain in the coaching profession but decided to relocate closer to his wife, two sons and daughter who have lived in Delaware for the past three years.

During his 10 year stretch at ESU, Moe was responsible for leading the Hornets to their first ever Division II national tournament in the 2003-2004 season. He is also one of just three coaches to take his team to every MIAA tournament held in Kansas City, and he was able to lead his team to the semifinals in four of the last six years.

Director of Athletics Kent Weiser recognized the improvement that Moe brought to the program.

“He was here for 10 seasons and just did an outstanding job for us. I think to really appreciate what he’s done you have to look back at where the program was in 2001,” Weiser said in reference to the year before Moe arrived in which the Hornets went 9-17.

With Moe being separated from his family for a good part of each basketball season, Weiser noted that Moe’s stepping down was not a surprise.

“It was not a surprise,” Weiser said. “I know this was weighing heavily on his mind really the last couple of years. It was tough because it seemed to me like when he was here, he felt he should’ve been with his family, and when he was with his family, he felt like he should’ve been here.”

The search for a new head coach began immediately after Moe stepped down. Weiser noted that despite high interest in the position (130 applicants), the process is about halfway through with hopes to name a new successor by the week of April 11.

Weiser plans on traveling to Houston this weekend to attend the National Coaches Convention to set up times with potential candidates, a process that will spill over into next week before they name the next coach.

Assistant Head Coach Wes Book has currently taken over the day to day operations of the team and will remain on staff with the team. The Hornets had two early signees that Weiser said will remain signed with the team. Book will remain in touch with the other recruits until the new coach is named.

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Moe plans to stay in the coaching profession and stated that he decided to step down in order to spend more time with his family who currently lives in Delaware. Assistant Coach Wes Brook will handle the day to day operations until a new head coach is found. The search for a new successor began immediately last week.

For the entire story see next week’s issue of The Bulletin.

Brandon Schneeberger

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With 4:13 left, the Hornets were down by 13 and would cut the lead to just two points with 44 seconds remaining. However, Fort Hays connected on seven out of their last eight free throws to put ESU away for good.

Michael Tyler and Adam Holthaus also scored in double figures for the Hornets. Tyler added 14 as Holthaus scored 10.

The Hornets season is officially over due to not winning the MIAA tournament. In order for the Hornets to move into the NCAA tournament, an MIAA tournament championship was needed.

Brandon Schneeberger

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Senior Robert Moores looks to take a shot against Fort Hays State University Saturday night at White Auditorium. The Hornets won 81-77. Kellen Jenkins/ The Bulletin

Despite 31 points from Fort Hays State Guard Dominique Jones, the Emporia State Hornets were able to control much of Saturday evening’s game and eventually pull away for an 81-77 victory on senior night.

            “Everybody wanted to win,” said Senior Michael Tyler. “We didn’t want to end our season bad. Everybody was talking about the MIAA tournament. We had to come back and play hard. Everybody knew that, so we did that tonight.”

Much like the last time the two teams met, the Hornets were able to stick with the Tigers. The first half saw ESU jump out to an impressive 16-6 led behind seniors Matt Boswell (nine points, four rebounds) and Tyler (18 points, eight rebounds).

            The Hornets would take an eight point lead into the half after Jones made a shot for FHSU as time expired. Tyler scored 13 of his 18 in the first 20 minutes of play, and the Hornets’ defense held strong holding the Tigers to just 35.5 percent shooting to their own 48.4 percent.

            ESU opened up a 13 point second half lead in the first three minutes of the half. However, Fort Hays would take their first lead with 6:28 left after scoring seven unanswered points.

            The teams would continue to battle back and forth. After a three pointer by Jones to tie the game with 3:48 left, the Hornets would hold Fort Hays to just two points in the next two minutes. Sophomore guard Taylor Euler (18 points, five rebounds) hit a big three with 1:01 remaining and added six free throws in the final minute to put Fort Hays away for good.

            “Last week really helped me with my confidence,” Euler said. “You look back on that experience, and say ‘I hit them then, I can hit them now.’ And this time you have the home crowd, the good vibes good luck. I was just able to step up and knock them down.”

            ESU honored their seniors before the game. They were both happy with the last two wins and looking forward to the weekend’s upcoming action.

            “It’s going to be pretty nice if we can go down to Kansas City, win a couple of games and be playing for a championship,” said Senior Adam Holthaus. “Definitely those last two games… (are) definitely a big confidence boost.”

            The Hornets (15-13, 12-10) are the sixth seed in the MIAA tournament. They will face Washburn in a rematch from last week’s game at 8:15 p.m. Thursday at Municipal Coliseum in Kansas City, Mo.

Brandon Schneeberger

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“The most important thing to me was that we competed as well as we have all year,” said Head Coach David Moe. “We got a little discouraged at times in the first half, but I think getting into the tournament after that last game relieved a lot pressure.”

Neither team took control in the early minutes with neither taking a lead larger than six points. With 3:49 left in the half, however, the Ichabods began what was an 8-0 run to end the half to give themselves a six point edge entering halftime.

Matt Boswell led the way for ESU in the first half scoring seven of his 15 in the half. Turnovers plagued the Hornets as they committed eight.

ESU fought back in the second and eventually tied the Ichabods with 14:03 remaining after a three by senior guard Robert Moores (eight points, seven assists).

Once again, neither team was able to pull away from the other until Euler’s three with 3:30 remaining. The second half saw five ties and 11 lead changes all within a 10:30 stretch of play.

“It was definitely a grind out game back and forth,” Burnette said. “We just knew that we had to match their intensity and keep fighting.”

With 3:30 left however, Euler made a deep three to break what would be the final tie of the evening. After two missed Washburn free throws, a free throw by senior guard Xavier Burnette (19 points, seven rebounds) and another three by Burnette, the Hornets were up by seven and would not look back.

Washburn would cut the lead to two points with 14 seconds remaining, but Euler would strike again as he made all four of his free throws in the final seconds to clinch the victory for the Hornets.

Despite hearing chants of “air-ball” throughout the night for a first half air ball as the shot clock wound down, Euler was able to make three of his four attempted threes as well as all four of his free throws late in the game in route to his 13 points.

“You get that (chants) all through high school,” Euler said. “You just have to have fun with it because if you don’t have fun with it, than it’s just going to get to you, and you’re going to get out of your game.”

The Hornets look to keep the success going as they prepare for the MIAA tournament. Their next game is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at White Auditorium in what is the final home game.

Brandon Schneeberger

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“In the first half we’d go out and do what we wanted how we wanted and struggled,” said Head Coach David Moe. “Luckily we were still in the game at halftime, came out in the second half and came out and played the way we needed to play.”

The first half for the Hornets may not have been pretty, but ESU was still able to maintain the lead. Although the Hornets kept Lincoln from shooting well on the defensive end, they struggled themselves as they settled for ten three pointers and made only one. Emporia State was led in the half by senior guard Robert Moores who had 10 of his 12 in the first half.

The Hornets came out sluggish again in the early goings of the second half as Lincoln went on a 10-4 run to open things up and tie the game at 40. However, ESU would counter with a 19-4 run of their own to lead 59-44 with 11:59 remaining.

“Definitely, in the second half, our defense kind of sparked our offense there,” said Senior Guard Matt Boswell who had 11 points and five rebounds. “Once we started getting some stops, we got easier buckets on the offensive end.”

Despite the hot shooting from the Blue Tigers in the second half (65.2 percent), the Hornets were able to force 12 second half turnovers and get easy buckets in transition. After the big run, the Hornets would lead by as many as 20 points with 3:15 left and didn’t allow Lincoln anywhere closer than 14.

Xavier Burnette led the way with 14 points and four rebounds. ESU saw strong contributions from the bench especially from Michael Tyler who scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds.

“Mike does come off the bench,” Boswell said. “But he’s one of our better players, better scorers. When we get it to him inside, he really uses his body well (and) makes stuff happen for us on the offensive end.”

Barring Wednesday night’s action, the win puts the Hornets at 10-10 in the MIAA and alone in sixth place. The Hornets are a game ahead of Missouri Western and Pittsburg State and two games ahead of Southwest Baptist.

The Hornets played Washburn on Wednesday night in the second round of the Turnpike Tussle. They return to White Auditorium for their final home game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Fort Hays State.

Brandon Schneeberger

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Senior Adam Holthaus gets a layup against Pittsburg State Wednesday night at White Auditorium. The Hornets beat the Gorillas 82-81.

 on the Gorillas of Pittsburg State. The Hornets were down by 12 at halftime but fought back for an 82-81 victory.

            “We’ve been in similar situations where we get down early,” said senior guard Xavier Burnette. “Tonight our main focus was not to pout, not to get down on ourselves but to just keep fighting and match their intensity.”

            The game started in Pittsburg State’s favor before it ever began as senior Michael Tyler was whistled for a technical foul before regulation began for dunking during the warm-ups, allowing the Gorillas to start the game up 1-0.

            Despite the early deficit, ESU was able to open up the game leading by three shortly after the start. However, the three-point shooting from the Gorillas overwhelmed Emporia as they scored 47 points in the first half to Emporia State’s 35. The Gorillas made nine of their 14 attempted three pointers in the half.

            “We were going zone and trying to take away the inside game and the penetration game, which we did, and they ended up kicking it out and everybody was knocking shots down,” said Head Coach David Moe.

            After switching to a man-to-man defense in the second half, the Hornets slowly began to cut into the lead. Senior guard Robert Moores helped spark the Hornets lead with eight points in the first ten minutes. Moores would finish with 12 points for the evening.

            It wasn’t until the 8:23 mark when the Hornets finally tied the Gorillas after a lay-up by senior Adam Holthaus. ESU would take their first lead after a steal and breakaway dunk by Burnette who ended the game with 19 total points, 13 of them coming in the second half.

            The Hornets’ free-throw shooting kept them in the game and eventually secured the win as Tyler sealed the deal with his two point shot at the 13 second mark. Despite a desperate three at the end, the Gorillas were unable to catch up.

“This is a huge win,” Moores said. “This gets us still in the race to get into the tournament. We have a lot of seniors on the team and we didn’t want Fort Hays being our last game.”

The win keeps the Hornets alive for post season play as they improve to 12-13 on the season and 9-10 in the MIAA. ESU will take the court again at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at White Auditorium.

Brandon Schneeberger

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