The Emporia State basketball teams both put losing streaks behind them in a sweep of Nebraska-Kearney Saturday at White Auditorium in Emporia.
In the men’s game, the Hornets snapped a four-game losing streak by holding off the Lopers 82-79. ESU led early but several Loper runs put them in front in the first half. UNK had an 8-1 run to go in front 33-21 with 4:20 left in the frame, but the Hornets answered with a 12-2 run and trailed 37-36 at the break. ESU gradually chipped away and took the lead on a Dallas Bear 3-pointer. Bear was big in the second half hitting five of his career-high six three’s after the intermission to go along with 17 of his personal best 24 points. Head coach Tom Billeter said he was big.
Bear said it was great to get rewarded with a win.
Treyvon Taylor scored 17 points to go along with a personal best 12 rebounds for his first career double-double. ESU (5-10, 1-5 MIAA) ended a four-game losing streak with the win.
In the women’s game, the Lady Hornets stormed back from 13 down to win 82-78 and end their own four-game losing streak. ESU trailed 47-37 at the break but used an 8-2 run out of the half to keep it close. Each team traded runs but ESU found a 13-2 run to slash the Loper lead to one before a later 8-1 run gave ESU an 80-76 lead with less than 30 seconds to go. Macey Gandee hit big free throws down the stretch to push the lead to four and the Lady Hornets got a stop on the last possession to end the game. Kaitlin Sanders led E-State with 19 points and head coach MJ Baker said it was huge for her to get going.
Sanders said the Lady Hornets run out of the intermission was key in the comeback.
Vanessa Coleman added 15 for ESU (8-7, 2-4 MIAA) while Macey Gandee chipped in 14. Emporia State returns home Thursday to host Washburn. Coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
