It was just outside the interview room — after the cameras had left and the ties had been loosened — when David Moe received perhaps one of the best compliments he’d ever gotten after shaking hands with Kansas coach Bill Self.
“I thought your daughter and your team,” Self said, “were the highlight of the first half.”
Young Lyndie Moe’s strong voice might have surprised the KU faithful during the national anthem, but it was nothing compared to the shock they received from David Moe’s Hornets in the first half of a 90-55 Jayhawk victory Tuesday in Allen Fieldhouse.
ESU — the same team picked ninth out of 10 teams in the MIAA coaches’ poll — took it to KU in the first 20 minutes, forcing six ties and three lead changes.
It was more than even the most optimistic of Hornets could have asked for.
“I’d never imagined we’d come out and play with them for the first half,” ESU forward Jordan Fithian said.
It all began with a strong start against the bigger, faster and more-talented Jayhawks. Wes Book finished a drive for the first two points, and Fithian added a jump-hook to make it 4-1.
DeAndre Townsend followed that with a pair of floaters in the lane, capping an 8-1 run to start the game that left the KU following both silent and stunned.
“At that moment we were up, nothing was really coming to mind,” Townsend said. “We were so happy.”
The confidence never left ESU in the first half.
KU went on a 13-1 run to take a 14-9 lead, but the Hornets stormed back. Townsend connected on another one-hander in traffic, and Andrew Davison completed a four-point play with a three and foul as ESU regained a 17-16 lead.
“They did not look like a Division II team,” Self said. “They made shots and made hard shots, and we missed shots. They had better energy. We picked two good teams to play this year in Washburn and Emporia State.”
ESU stuck with KU for the remainder of the half, spreading the floor and limiting the Jayhawks’ transition opportunities.
Townsend gave the Hornets a calming presence at the point-guard position, hitting a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to cut the KU deficit to 41-37 at the break.
The junior had 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the first 20 minutes.
“Number 31 (Townsend) was the best player in the first half by far,” Self said. “He was a lot better than anyone in the game.”
ESU’s magic soon ran out.
After Donta Watson’s three-pointer cut the KU lead to 51-44 at the 15:50 mark, the Hornets managed just one field goal the rest of the way. Over the next eight minutes, the Jayhawks used an 18-0 run to push the advantage to 69-46 and put the game well out of reach.
“I wish we could do it over. I wish we could play that second half all over again,” Townsend said. “We’re way better than we showed in the second half.”
Despite his team’s solid early effort, Moe couldn’t hide his disappointment from his team’s collapse in the second half. The Hornets were outscored 49-18 in the final 20 minutes.
“I watched the second half — that’s pretty vivid in my memory— so it’s hard to go back to the first half,” Moe said. “When the game got tough, we lost what we were trying to do.”
Still, it was the first 20 minutes that remained on the players’ minds the most — especially when virtually no one gave the Hornets a chance at even competing with the Big 12-favorite Jayhawks.
“I’m speechless. It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed every minute of it,” Townsend said. “I’m out there with the No. 3 team in the nation. They might win the national championship. Who knows?
“It’s something I’ll always remember. That crowd was great.”
Townsend finished with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, with most of his scores coming on drives into the lane against the much taller Kansas big men.
Townsend is generously listed on the roster at 5-foot-8.
“They’re good. They’re really good,” Townsend said. “They’re going to be outstanding, and we’re going to be outstanding, too.”
Watson added 10 points, while Ed Desir contributed five points, seven rebounds and six blocks.
ESU’s defense also was enough to frustrate a pair of talented KU players. Brandon Rush — who was named a preseason first-team All-American earlier in the day — was held to 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting.
After scoring 21 against Washburn, freshman Darrell Arthur also struggled, hitting just 3-of-11 shots overall.
In just his second game, Sherron Collins sparked the Jayhawk offense. He finished with a game-high 20 points and played 32 minutes, forced into his first start because of a toe injury to guard Mario Chalmers.
Kansas had six players in double-figures.
The Jayhawks also had to deal with some off-the-court distractions. C.J. Giles was dismissed from the team a few hours earlier in the day because of irresponsible behavior and disrespect for team rules.
KU campus police issued Giles a ticket for misdemeanor battery on Monday related to an incident involving a former girlfriend who refused to leave his apartment.
ESU will face an exhibition against Hornet alumni this Saturday before opening the season against Ottawa next Wednesday.
“We showed to our team and ourselves,” Townsend said, “that we can play with anybody.”