The Emporia State basketball teams split with Missouri Southern at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin, Mo. on Saturday.
The Emporia State men didn’t trail in the last 31 minutes of the game in an 83-74 victory over the Lions to pick up their second road win of the year. The game was close through the first eight minutes, but MSSU didn’t hold the lead after 16-14 at the 13-minute mark in the first. ESU went on an 8-0 run just after to take a six-point edge and led 37-31 at the break. ESU built their biggest lead at 52-38 on another 8-0 run early in the second half with just under 15 minutes to play. MoSo answered later with a 14-3 run to cut the lead down to two with just under six to go as ESU missed 10 of 11 shots. The Hornets responded and knocked down their free throws down the stretch to hold off the Green & Gold. Head coach Tom Billeter credited his team for hanging in the game after the Lions made their push.
Parker Day finished with a career high 25 points and nine rebounds. He said keeping it simple has allowed him to get back in the flow of the game after missing a week to be with his new daughter in Michigan.
Chris Harris added his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. ESU (8-15, 5-9 MIAA) ended a four-game road losing streak with the win.
The Lady Hornet women never led and fell 85-68 to the Lions. 2024 MIAA Freshman of the Year Ryan Franklin started the game on a personal 10-1 run for MoSo. Later, the Lions built the lead to double-digits on a 9-0 run to make it 29-15 with eight minutes to go in the first half and E-State trailed 44-28 at the break. The Lady Hornets battled in the second half and cut the deficit to eight with just under five to play, but gave up a 14-2 run to the Lions to fall on the road. Head coach Brian Ostermann said the home team deserved credit for controlling the game.
Freshman Jayla Cornelius led the Lady Hornets (9-14, 4-10 MIAA) with 20 points while freshman Makenzie McDaniel had 16 points and nine rebounds for the second-straight game. ESU returns to White Auditorium for their second-to-last home game of the year Wednesday to host Fort Hays State. Pregame coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. with the doubleheader tipping off at 5:30 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network/Mix 104.9.
