The tests just keep getting tougher for the No. 8 Emporia State men’s basketball team.
On Wednesday, it was the first road game in 46 days at Washburn, with the Hornets passing that challenge with an 80-77 victory.
Tonight, it will get even more difficult, as ESU travels to Pittsburg to take on the 9-3 Gorillas. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at John Lance Arena on the Pittsburg State campus.
A victory tonight would give ESU a 13-0 record, which would be the best start in school history. Currently, the Hornets are tied with the 1920-21 team for the most wins to start a season.
“That’s a great feeling, and that’s a great feeling for the town I’m sure,” ESU guard Andrew Davison said. “For us, it’s really exciting.”
PSU has already shown a knack for playing well in big games. The Gorillas have knocked off two of its three ranked opponents this year, including a 77-72 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma two weeks ago to give the Savage Storm its first loss of the season.
“This is a true test for us,” ESU guard Scott Elliott said. “This is to see how good we really are.”
ESU, meanwhile, comes off perhaps its biggest win of the season— a three-point victory over Washburn at Lee Arena.
The Hornets led by as many as 12 in the second half before the Ichabods rallied to make it a two-point game with 4:13 remaining.
ESU hit 5 of its last 6 free throws down the stretch to hold onto the lead.
“I thought we played great,” ESU guard DeAndre Townsend said. “We came out poised. We hadn’t played on the road in such a long time.”
PSU should be as tough of a game as ESU has played all season. The Gorillas are a perfect 6-0 at home this season and enter the game with the reigning co-MIAA player of the week in center Cory Abercrombie.
The 6-foot-7 junior averaged 18.7 points in the Gorillas’ three victories over Southeastern Oklahoma, Truman and Missouri Southern.
“We know that they have a great inside presence with Abercrombie,” Elliott said. “He’s a focal point for us.”
ESU will catch a bit of a break, as guard Carlos Taylor will be held out of the lineup because of a leg injury. He was averaging 11.4 points per game before suffering the setback in early December.
Junior guard Keith Windom has stepped up in Taylor’s absence, averaging 12.7 points in league games. He was the Gorillas’ leading scorer with 18 in their last contest against Missouri Southern.
On the women’s side, No. 4 ESU will look to rebound from Wednesday’s 69-62 setback to No. 3 Washburn. It was the Lady Hornets’ third loss of the season.
“We’ll respond just like we have been,” ESU junior Michelle Stueve said. “There’s not much you can do. What’s done is done.”
ESU coach Brandon Schneider was disappointed with his team’s toughness in the first half against the Lady Blues. During that stretch, the Lady Hornets committed 10 turnovers to the Lady Blues’ 1.
“There isn’t any other way to put it — we were just soft in the first half,” Schneider said. “They were physical and tough, and that’s how you build a lead.”
The PSU women come in with a 6-5 record, 1-2 in the MIAA. The Lady Gorillas sit at eighth place in the conference standings, with their lone conference win coming against Truman on Dec. 30.
PSU is led by forward Janelle Klein, who averages 12.7 points per game. Guard Anna Nimz (10.9 ppg) and Candice Gilbert (10.1 ppg) also have averaged double figures for PSU.