Patrick
Emporia State (3–6, 0–2 MIAA) welcomes Sterling (7–6, 4–3 KCAC) for Game 10 of the season on Wednesday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m. The contest will be played at WL White Auditorium in Emporia, Kansas.
- Series Record: Emporia State leads 10–1
- Last Meeting: Emporia State defeated Sterling 86–63 (Dec. 17, 2024)
- Radio: KFFX 104.9 FM
- Internet Audio: kvoe.com
- Television: None
- Streaming Video: The MIAA Network
- Live Stats & Tickets: Available online
- Next Game: at Rockhurst — December 20, 2:00 p.m. (Kansas City, Mo., Mason Halpin Fieldhouse)
Closing Out 2025 at Home
Emporia State will wrap up its final home game of the 2025 calendar year by hosting Sterling, looking to finish strong in front of the home crowd at White Auditorium.
About the Hornets
Emporia State enters the matchup with a 3–6 overall record and is 0–2 in MIAA play. Offensively, the Hornets have been consistent, scoring 70 or more points in eight of nine games this season. Depth has been a strength, with nine different players reaching double figures at least once.
- Andrew Pengel: Team-leading 15.3 points per game
- Chris Harris: 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game
- Trey Redd: Averages 4.9 assists per game, leading the offense from the guard position
About the Warriors
Sterling comes in with a 7–6 overall record and sits at 4–3 in the KCAC standings.
- Julian Smith: Leading scorer at 17.2 points per game
- Ziri Blackwood: Adds 11.6 points per game off the bench
- Joseph Oparaeke: Team’s top rebounder with 6.2 rebounds per game
About the Coaches
Tom Billeter is in his 28th season as a head coach, holding a career record of 504–298. Now in his second year at Emporia State (14–24), Billeter previously spent 21 seasons at Augustana, compiling a 394–224 record.
His résumé includes a 2016 National Championship, nine NCAA Tournament appearances, three NSIC regular-season titles, two NSIC Tournament championships, and 18 straight winning seasons. He is 1–0 all-time against Sterling.
Randy Stange is in his fourth season at Sterling with a 50–54 record and is 0–1 against Emporia State.
Series History
Emporia State has controlled the rivalry, owning a 10–1 advantage in the all-time series. Sterling’s only victory came during the 1919–20 season, a narrow 26–24 result.
Last Meeting vs. Sterling
In the most recent matchup, Emporia State earned an 86–63 victory with a balanced offensive performance. Ten Hornets scored, including seven players with at least eight points.
Sterling opened the game with a 6–4 lead, but Emporia State responded by holding the Warriors without a field goal for nearly six minutes, sparking an 18–2 run to build a 22–8 advantage. The lead never returned to single digits.
- Arhman Lewis: 16 points and six assists
- Karyiek Dixon: 11 points and nine rebounds
- Parker Day: 10 points and six rebounds
- Donald Coats III: Team-high 11 rebounds
Last Time Out
Emporia State delivered a dominant performance in its previous game, rolling to a 113–60 win over Kansas Christian in front of Emporia Middle School sixth graders at White Auditorium.
The Hornets surged ahead early, opening with a 16–4 lead in the first three minutes. A Jack Weigus three-pointer capped a 12–0 run to make it 28–7, and the advantage continued to grow.
At halftime, Emporia State led 58–30, and a 15–0 second-half run pushed the margin to 96–49. The Hornets closed the game with seven straight points to seal the final.
- Dallas Bear: Career-high 22 points
- Mason Jones: 17 points
- Andrew Pengel: 16 points
- Jack Weigus: 14 points
- Trey Redd: 11 points
- Justin Mack: 10 points
Emporia State surpassed 100 points for the 105th time in program history, shooting 55.1% from the field and outrebounding Kansas Christian 52–27. Every Hornet recorded at least one rebound.
As Emporia State prepares to close out its home schedule for 2025, the Hornets will look to carry momentum from their recent blowout win and continue their strong scoring consistency.
Sterling brings a competitive KCAC-tested lineup, led by Julian Smith, setting the stage for an intriguing non-conference matchup.
With history favoring Emporia State and balanced production across the roster, the Hornets aim to defend their home court before heading back on the road.