Fort Hays State swept Emporia State basketball at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan. on Thursday.
The #7 Tiger women used a 15-2 fourth quarter run to pull away for an 87-65 victory. ESU jumped out to a 7-2 lead to start the game, but the Tigers stormed back with a 9-2 run and outscored ESU 11-0 on the fast break in the first quarter. E-State settled things in the second and didn’t allow a transition basket and answered a second 9-2 FHSU run with 14-3 run of their own to briefly take the lead before trailing at the half by one. The Lady Hornets stuck around and trailed by six going to the fourth, but the Tigers took a double-digit lead with a 15-2 run early in the final frame to put E-State away. Emporia State center Makenzie McDaniel didn’t finish the game after departing the second half with an apparent ankle injury. Head coach Brian Ostermann said that was a factor in FHSU taking over the fourth quarter.
Makenna Clark scored a career high 11 points and was matched by ESU’s Jayla Cornelius and Katie Horyna. ESU (7-7, 2-3 MIAA) shot just 32% from the field.
In the men’s game, Fort Hays State never trailed and the Tigers coasted to a 69-44 victory over the Hornets. FHSU jumped out to an 11-4 edge to start the game and built their first double-digit lead with a 21-6 first-half run and never looked back. ESU was outrebounded by 12 in the game and shot just 35% from the field while the Tigers connected on 50% of their shots. ESU head coach Tom Billeter said the team needs to get back to work.
Malik Edwards Jr. was the only Hornet in double figures with 10 points. ESU (7-7, 2-3 MIAA) returns to action hosting Nebraska-Kearney Saturday. Coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. with tip-off for the doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network/Mix 104.9.
