The Emporia state basketball teams split in a doubleheader with Missouri Western at White Auditorium in Emporia on Saturday.
In the men’s game, the Hornets led for nearly 35 minutes in a 70-56 victory that ended a four-game losing streak to Western. Drew Tennial scored the first eight points of the game for ESU on the way to finishing with 15. The Hornets played without senior guard Owen Long, who missed the game with an ankle injury he suffered against Northwest Missouri Wednesday, and Solomon Oraegbu, who will miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum. Still, the Hornets controlled the game and went into halftime up 35-22 by scoring the last eight points of the half. ESU built the lead as high as 22 in the second with just over two minutes to play and Missouri Western was never able to get within single digits in the second half. Coach Doty said after the game it was his team’s best performance of the year.
Atavian Butler led the Hornets with 23 points on 9 of 13 shooting from the field finishing one shy of a career high. He said he knew with Long being out he’d have to step up.
Darius Yohe grabbed eight rebounds and blocked six shots. ESU improved to 15-10 on the season and moves to 8-9 in conference play.
In the women’s game, Missouri Western pulled away late to hold off the Lady Hornets for a 61-51 victory that, coupled with Missouri Southern’s loss against Central Missouri, puts the Griffons into a tie for first place in the league standings. Western led 8-2 early, but ESU stuck with the Griffons to trail 31-29 at the half and tie the game at 41 through three, but Western outscored ESU 20-10 in the fourth to stave off E-State. Faith Paramore collected another double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Stevie Stinchcomb added 13. Head coach Brian Ostermann said after the game that the team played hard but ran out of energy.
Senior guard Katie Horyna missed the game with a foot injury. The loss drops ESU to 10-13 overall and 7-10 in the MIAA. ESU returns to action Saturday, February 17 when they travel to Wichita to face Newman. Coverage begins at 1:00 p.m. with the RV Doc Pregame Show on Mix 104.9. Listen online at KVOE.com/listen or via the Audacy app.
