The Emporia State basketball teams split their first doubleheader of 2024 at White Auditorium in Emporia on Wednesday.
The Lady Hornets gave up a 17-4 run over the last six and a half minutes of the game to fall 68-58 to Newman. The Jets entered the game as the worst 3-point shooting team in the conference at just 23% but torched ESU for a season high 11 3-pointers and 41% shooting from outside the arc. The Jets used an early 14-2 run to take a 20-9 lead with 90 seconds to play in the first quarter before settling for a 28-18 lead at the half. ESU found their offense in the third quarter thanks to a 16-3 run that spanned over five minutes to tie the game at 47 going into the final 10 minutes, but the Lady Hornets missed 14 of 18 shots and all seven three’s in the final frame. Gracie Gilpin scored a career high 17 points and matched a career high with four three-balls in defeat. Head Coach Brian Ostermann said the team must shoot better to have a chance at winning.
ESU falls to 6-6 on the year and 3-3 in the MIAA with the loss.
In the men’s game, after going over 30 years without a triple-double, the Hornets picked up two in back-to-back games. Alijah Comithier scored 22 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Hornets topped the century mark with a 100-73 win over Newman. Emporia State led for over 39 minutes in the game and never trailed jumping out to an 8-2 run to start the game. After the Jets cut the deficit to single-digits, ESU used a 10-2 run to take a 41-27 lead with just under five minutes to play in the first half. ESU led 55-36 at halftime and the Jets never challenged in the second. Solomon Oraegbu scored a season high 31 points while Kaden Evans added 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals with no turnovers. Comithier said a selfless team led to his success.
Coach Doty was amazed by his performance.
ESU improves to 11-3 on the season and 4-2 in the MIAA with the win. E-State returns to action Saturday hosting Central Oklahoma. Coverage begins with the RV Doc Pregame Show at 1:00 p.m. with the women tipping at 1:30 p.m. on Mix 104.9. Listen online at KVOE.com/listen or via the Audacy app.
