June 12, 2008-The Emporia State men’s basketball team had their highest finish ever in the national attendance rankings, placing 11 th among the nearly 300 NCAA Division II basketball playing schools. This is the sixth straight year ESU men’s basketball has been ranked in the top 25 nationally and the fourth straight year the Hornets have been in the top 15.

ESU outdrew 134 NCAA Division I schools during the 2007-08 school year including six teams that made the NCAA Division I national tournament field.

ESU was one of just 11 D-II schools nationally to draw over 2,000 fans per game. The Hornets averaged 2,156 fans per game in 14 home dates. ESU had a season high 3,995 at their 92-87 win over Washburn on Jan. 9 and a total of seven games over 2,000 on the year.

ESU was among seven MIAA teams in the top 30 nationally. As a conference the MIAA drew 231,767 fans to 139 games to lead all Division II conferences in total attendance. The MIAA’s 1,667 average ranked second to the North Central Conference.

The ESU Lady Hornets were second in the nation in average attendance.

2008 NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S BASKETBALL TOP TEN AND MIAA SCHOOLS IN TOP 30

2008 NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S BASKETBALL ATTENDANCE CONFERENCE LEADERS