The Emporia State basketball teams split with Arkansas-Fort Smith on Sunday at White Auditorium in Emporia.
In the men’s game, the Hornets won back-to-back games for the second time this season with an 81-75 victory over the Lions. For the second-straight game it was a tale of two halves with ESU playing perhaps their best half of the year on the way to a 45-22 lead at the break. E-State built the lead with a 27-6 run that spanned over 11 and a half minutes including a 12-0 run over the last 3:08 of the stretch. After shooting 55% from the field and holding UAFS to 28% shooting, the Lions flipped the script and shot 52% in the second half while ESU warmed up at the end to shoot 39% in the second. UAFS cut their deficit to 14 with a 14-3 run before finally cutting it under 10 with a 14-2 run with less than seven minutes to play, but the Hornets knocked down free throws down the stretch and the Lions never drew even. ESU head coach Tom Billeter called it a good win.
Junior guard Malik Edwards Jr. said finding ways to score points in runs were big in the two victories this week.
Edwards finished with a game-high 22 points on 4 of 7 shooting from outside the arc while Karyiek Dixon added 14 points. ESU (6-13, 3-7 MIAA) won back-to-back games for the second time this year.
The Lady Hornets battled but faded down the stretch falling 87-68 to the Lady Lions. UAFS took control in the second quarter shooting 56% in the frame to take a 45-32 lead at the break. ESU came out the intermission with one of their best periods of the season piling up 31 points hitting 7 of 9 three pointers, but finished the game missing 15 of their last 17 shots as the Lions ended the game on a 12-0 run. Head coach Brian Ostermann said it was tough to find stops with his defense.
Gracie Gilpin led ESU with 22 points and matched a career high of six 3-pointers while Elizabeth Tjaden had a personal best 16 points with a career-high four threes. ESU (7-12, 2-8 MIAA) with the loss has dropped their last seven games. E-State returns to action Thursday to host Rogers State. Pregame coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network/Mix 104.9.
