The Emporia State basketball teams fell twice at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletic Center in Warrensburg, Mo. on Saturday.
The ESU men couldn’t hold onto a halftime lead and fell in a 48-45 decision to the Mules. ESU used a 12-2 run early to take an 20-17 lead midway through the first half and led 30-25 at the break. The Hornets struggled to make shots in the second period and missed their last 14 3-pointers to end the game including missing all 12 of their attempts in the second half. UCM used a 17-3 run that spanned over 10 minutes to take the lead with just under 10 minutes to go and they wouldn’t trail again. ESU set up a play for Chris Harris down three with 5.4 seconds remaining and he nailed a three only to see it waived off because of a foul on the pass as UCM had several fouls to give. On the second inbound pass with less than five seconds to go, Harris was stripped on the way up, got the ball back and had a clean look to tie at the buzzer but missed just long. Despite the poor shooting, head coach Tom Billeter said he was satisfied with the Hornets’ shot selection.
E-State (4-13, 1-7 MIAA) finished a season low 29% from the field and 16% from the arc on the way to losing a seventh-straight game. The Hornets were a frigid 6-for-29 after halftime. Harris was the only player in double figures while Parker Day grabbed a career high 12 rebounds.
In the women’s game, the Jennies pulled away with a big second half as the Lady Hornets tumbled for the sixth-straight time in a 69-52 defeat. The Lady Hornets responded to an early basket with a 10-0 run in the first quarter, but the Jennies scored the last seven of the first quarter to level the game at 15. ESU had a 10-0 run early in the second quarter but the Jennies again scored the last seven of the half to tie the game at 27 going into the break. UCM then made their move with a 21-3 burst that put them up 16 early in the fourth and E-State couldn’t keep up. Head coach Brian Ostermann said, with a four-game homestand looming, the Lady Hornets need to remember how to win.
Katie Horyna scored 18 points in 40 minutes while Gracie Gilpin added 14 in 40 minutes for the Lady Hornets but they were the only players in double figures for Emporia State (7-10, 2-6 MIAA). ESU opens their homestand Thursday against Northeastern State. Pregame coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network/Mix 104.9.
