Emporia State forward Ed Desir has seen a lot of Wes Book in the last three years.
But he’s never seen the ESU guard quite like he saw him Saturday night against Central Oklahoma.
“Wes Book... What can I say about him?” Desir said. “He was phenomenal tonight.”
Book was all that and more for ESU on Saturday, scoring a career-high 33 points in ESU’s 98-89 victory over Central Oklahoma in the Greg Rahe “Voice of the Hornets” Classic.
The win improved the Hornets’ record to a perfect 5-0.
“(Friday) night I felt like I didn’t have much energy, so tonight I just wanted to come out and provide a lot of energy,” Book said. “Hopefully, it helped spark the team.”
The Emporia High graduate certainly did that, making plays on both ends for ESU.
Though he totaled his most points ever as Hornet, his most significant play might have come on defense with his team clinging to an 88-79 lead with just under two minutes to go.
Needing a score to stay in it, Central tried to get an entry pass to forward Jason Arbet.
“They had been trying to get it inside, and their big man seals really well,” Book said. “I just saw the guy throw it into him.”
Book read it perfectly and lept into the lane for his fifth steal of the night.
He wasn’t finished. After making it to the other end, he dropped a bounce pass to a streaking Jordan Fithian, who completed the play with a layup that pushed the lead back to 11.
Central later cut the advantage to 95-89 on a four-point play from Brian Walker with 21.9 seconds left, but free throws from Donta Watson and Andrew Davison sealed the ESU win.
Book was especially effective offensively in the first half, coming through to help the Hornets build an early lead.
He made ESU’s first two shots — a 3-pointer from the corner and another from the right side — to begin an 8-0 Hornet run to open the game.
“He’s always worked hard and been active,” ESU coach David Moe said. “It was nice to see him knock shots down and be really good.”
The guard was just getting warmed up.
In the last 5:20 of the first half, Book scored 11 of ESU’s final 17 points. He finished the first 20 minutes with 20 points, helping ESU take a 43-36 lead into the break.
Book also competed hard on the defensive end, helping out the Hornets when they found themselves in some foul trouble.
ESU’s three primary post players — Caleb Tegtmeier, Fithian and Desir — combined for seven fouls in the first half.
Moe decided to go with a four-guard lineup, meaning the 6-foot-4 Book had the task of guarding 6-7 Anthony Brown.
The junior more than held his own, finishing the game with six rebounds and the five steals to go along with his 33 points.
“He came out and played hard,” Desir said. “That’s what you do when you play hard.”
The physical game became even more physical in the second half, when ESU struggled to keep the lead it had built.
A pair of Davison free throws gave ESU a 65-50 advantage with 12:45 to go, but Central Oklahoma responded with a 14-5 run over the next four minutes to make it 70-64.
Book again came through, hitting a three from the corner and then a layup on a fast break to start an 8-0 ESU spurt that helped regain a healthy 14-point advantage.
The ESU lead never dipped under six the rest of the way.
There was no MVP award given in the Classic, but Book would have ran away with it if there had been one. He finished with 44 points in the two-day event, showing the skills that helped make him MIAA Freshman of the Year two seasons ago.
Book made 9 of 15 shots from the floor on Saturday and also 10 of 12 from the free-throw line.
“I think what’s most dangerous about this team is you don’t know who is going to score the points,” Book said. “We try to get it from everywhere.”
Watson finished with 22 points and six assists, while DeAndre Townsend added 18 points.
Desir also registered a career-high of his own, pulling down 14 rebounds to go with his six points.
“Coach has been on me for that,” Desir said with a smile. “I just tried to grab as many as I could.”
ESU will play Avila at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at White Auditorium, immediately following the ESU women’s game against Harris-Stowe.
Missouri Western 74, Northeastern St. 73
Joe Manthe’s high-arching, guarded 3-pointer as time expired gave Missouri Western the one-point victory over Northeastern (Okla.) State on Saturday.
The Griffons trailed 70-65 with just 37 seconds remaining before staging their comeback.
Kenny Oliver led Missouri Western (4-1) with 21 points.