The No. 7 seed Emporia State men’s basketball team shot just 32% from the field and fell in a scrappy 59-55 affair to No. 10 seed Lincoln in the first round of the MIAA Tournament on Wednesday. ESU led throughout much of the first half and took a 32-28 lead into the break despite shooting just 35% from the field. The Lincoln defense was able to ratchet up its pressure and hold the Hornets to just 7 of 24 shooting in the second half. Lincoln used an 11-2 run that spanned halftime to take an early second half lead. Neither team led by more than three points in the second half until Lincoln’s final point scored on a free throw with less three seconds to play in the game. Owen Long’s career came to an end after 16 points while Alijah Comithier notched a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds with four assists in his final game in the Black & Gold. Head Coach Craig Doty reflected on the team’s season after the game.
Kaden Evans talked about the bond that this team built while fighting through adversity.
Doty said after the game that Evans, Cael McGee, and P. J. Johnson had all signed to return to the team next year. The Hornets finish 19-12 and finished with a winning record in MIAA play for the fourth consecutive season for the first time in program history.
