The Emporia State basketball teams split on the road with Nebraska-Kearney at the Health & Sports Center in Kearney, Neb. on Thursday night.
The Emporia State men dominated in the first half and cruised to a 77-58 victory over the Lopers. ESU used a 10-1 run in the middle of the first half to expand to a double-digit lead eventually building it to a 48-22 halftime advantage. ESU shot 47% from the field in the first half while nailing 9 of 20 3-pointers. ESU pushed the lead out to 31 with just over 12 minutes to go and Kearney never got closer than the 19-point deficit at the final buzzer. Ativan Butler led the Hornets with 22 points and hit a career-high five 3-pointers. Alijah Comithier added 17 while the Hornets as a team dished 20 assists on 24 made baskets with just five turnovers. Head coach Craig Doty said it was a much needed road victory.
Cael McGee scored a career high 13 points off the bench while matching his career high of four rebounds. He says it’s important to be ready to provide depth when asked.
ESU improves to 13-7, 6-6 in the MIAA with the win.
In the women’s game, ESU faltered from the field and from the line down the stretch as UNK held off the Lady Hornets 68-64. The Lopers led 15-11 after one, but ESU took a 31-30 lead into halftime and maintained the one-point edge into the fourth quarter. ESU, which made 7 of 16 3-pointers in the middle two periods, missed 12 of 15 shots in the fourth while connecting on just 2 of 10 3-pointers. ESU missed five-straight foul shots late on the way to finishing just 5-for-13 at the line while the Lopers hit all eight of their fourth-quarter free throws. Gracie Gilpin matched a career high of four 3-pointers to score 16 points and Katie Horyna also added 16. Head coach Brian Ostermann said the team felt they let one slip away.
ESU drops to 9-9, 6-6 in the league with the loss. Both teams return to action on the road at Hays on Saturday. Coverage begins with the RV Doc Pregame Show with tipoff set for 2:00 p.m. Saturday on Mix 104.9. Listen online at KVOE.com/listen or via the Audacy app.
