The Emporia State basketball teams split with Fort Hays State at White Auditorium in Emporia on Thursday.
In the men’s game, the Hornets won back-to-back games for the third time this year after beating the Tigers 58-44. ESU led 32-22 at the break when FHSU trimmed the deficit to seven, but the Hornets answered with an 11-0 run and led for nearly 34 minutes of the game. The Hornet defense stifled the Tigers into just 28% shooting overall and just 6-for-26 shooting in the second half. Head coach Tom Billeter said it’s the part of the team that has improved the most since the start of the season.
Arhman Lewis was the only Hornet in double figures with 14 points. He said that the Hornets controlled Hays in the first half to seize the momentum of the game.
No other Hornet scored in double figures but the E-State (9-15, 6-9 MIAA) bench dominated outscoring FHSU’s 18-4. Karyiek Dixon grabbed 10 rebounds.
In the women’s game, #7 Fort Hays State outscored the Lady Hornets 15-6 in the second period on the way to a 70-52 victory. ESU battled back early to trail 17-14 through 10 minutes. The Lady Hornets trailed 25-20 with just over five minutes to go in the first half and didn’t score again in the frame as the Tigers pushed the lead with a 7-0 run to take a 32-20 advantage at the break. ESU trimmed the deficit to five on back-to-back three’s early in the third before Hays answered with seven-straight points. ESU cut the lead again to seven midway through the third, but the Tigers put the game away with a 14-0 run spanning the end of the third quarter. Head coach Brian Ostermann said the cold stretch at the end of the first half hurt.
The Lady Hornets shot just 2-for-14 in the second frame. Elizabeth Tjaden was the only E-Stater in double figures with 11. ESU (9-15, 4-11 MIAA) heads up to Nebraska-Kearney for a doubleheader Saturday. Coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. with tip-off at 2:00 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network/Mix 104.9.
