ESU Athletics
Don Weast, Associate Athletic Director
EMPORIA – Emporia State jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first five minutes and never looked back in an 87-57 win over Baker to wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule 8-3.
Brendan Van Dyke got things started with a dunk just 21 seconds into the game and scored six of the Hornets first 13 points. The Wildcats finally got on the board with 15:00 left in the half on a Charles Fisher bucket, but the Hornets still led 15-2 at the first media timeout.
A 20-2 run gave Emporia State a thirty point lead with 3:51 left in the half. After being held to 12 points in the first 16 minutes of action, Baker outscored the Hornets 11-8 in the final 3:29 as Emporia State took a 50-23 lead to the locker room. The Hornets shot .629 from the field in the first half, going 19 of 24 (.792) from inside the three point arc.
A 10-0 run early in the second half pushed the Emporia State lead to 65-27 with 14:55 left. The lead would eventually reach 40 points at 78-38 on a Devin Rottweiler three-pointer with 8:17 remaining. The Wildcats would get the deficit to under 30 with 1:02 left at 85-57 before Rottweiler scored again with 49 seconds left for the final score of 87-57.
The Hornets cooled off in the second half and ended the game shooting .537 from the field. Van Dyke led Emporia State with 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. He was joined in double figures by Justin Williams with 13 points, Keyon Thomas with 12 and Rottweiler with 11 points. Ten of 11 Hornets that suited up scored with nine grabbing at least two rebounds and nine dishing at least one assist.
Emporia State will return to MIAA action on Saturday, Jan. 4 when they travel to Topeka for their first Turnpike Tussle of the season. Tip-off from Lee Arena is set for 7 p.m.