The Emporia State basketball teams split two wild games with Washburn in the Turnpike Tussle at Lee Arena in Topeka on Saturday.
In the men’s game, the Hornets came from 19 down with just over 16 minutes to play to stun the Ichabods 80-76. The Hornets had to play from behind almost the entire first half and had their last lead of the half just two minutes into the game. Washburn used a 9-0 run to lead 21-9 with 12 minutes to go in the first and ESU never got closer than seven trailing 46-32 at the break. Trailing 54-35 with just over 16 minutes to go the Hornets chipped back into the game over the next four minutes before making their move with a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to five with 8:20 left. The ‘Bods pushed the lead back to 10 with just over six minutes to play when senior guard Owen Long hit back-to-back 3-pointers to slice the deficit to four. ESU scored a bucket to go back up eight before giving up an 8-0 Hornet run to tie the game at 70. After two Ichabod free throws, Long nailed back-to-back threes again to give ESU a 76-72 lead with 33 seconds to play. Washburn was able to cut the lead to one with eight seconds left but the Hornets iced the game at the free throw line down the stretch. Long scored a season high and ESU career high 36 points with a career high eight 3-pointers. Head coach Craig Doty talked about Long’s effort in the win.
After two performances that weren’t to his standards, Long said that his dad had the perfect advice for the situation.
Senior forward Alijah Comithier added 19 points for ESU and knew that the team’s previous adversity has made them ready to overcome any challenge.
Fifth-year center Darius Yohe said the comeback really started in the halftime locker room.
Yohe finished with five blocks and seven rebounds in the game. ESU wraps up the regular season at 19-11 and 12-10 in the MIAA and will be the No. 7 seed in the MIAA Tournament.
In the women’s game, the Lady Hornets blew a 13-point second half lead and fell in overtime 59-58. ESU charged in front 15-7 early before settling for a 22-19 lead at the half. ESU led 44-31 with 1:33 to go in the third period when Washburn scored four straight to end the period and then the first seven of the fourth period to get within two. Neither team led by more than four the rest of the way. Senior Katie Horyna had her first field goal of the game with 28 seconds to go to put ESU in front, but Aubree Dewey answered for Washburn on the other end. After an E-State turnover, Washburn couldn’t get a shot away late and the game ended in a 50-50 tie in regulation. Horyna picked up her second field goal with a tiebreaking layup with 1:18 to go to make it 58-56 ESU, but Gabi Giovannetti answered with a three to give Washburn a one point lead. After each team missed free throws, Horyna missed a layup that appeared to end the game, but a jump ball was called and ESU was awarded possession with 0.6 seconds left. Horyna made a layup off the in bounds play but did not get the shot off in time as Washburn held on to win. Head coach Brian Ostermann broke down what went wrong for the Lady Hornets late.
Faith Paramore led ESU with 20 points while Tylieea Wallace fouled out after scoring 16 points in 21 minutes. E-State drops to 13-15 and 10-12 in the MIAA. The Lady Hornets will be the No. 9 seed in the MIAA Tournament after losing a tiebreaker to Northeastern State.
Both teams will advance to the MIAA Tournament with the Lady Hornets facing NSU to open the tournament at noon on Wednesday and the Hornets facing Lincoln at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday night. Coverage plans will be announced Monday. You can find the sports schedule online anytime at KVOE.com/calendar.
