The Emporia State basketball teams swept Central Missouri at White Auditorium in Emporia Saturday to wrap up a four-game homestand.
In the women’s game, the Lady Hornets ended the Jennies’ six-game winning streak with a 76-70 victory. UCM started the game on a 8-0 run but ESU steadied itself and then answered with a 9-2 run going into halftime to lead 35-32 at the intermission. UCM took the lead back midway through the third, but ESU went on a 19-4 run that spanned over six minutes to take a 10-point advantage early in the fourth. Central didn’t go away cutting the deficit to two with a 6-0 run in the final minute, but ESU knocked down late free throws to put the game away. Head coach MJ Baker said ESU’s depth was their strength.
Micah Hannah had a career-high 9 rebounds and six assists against just one turnover with four points. She said her goal was to find a way to help the team win without scoring.
Kaitlin Sanders led the Black & Gold with 22 points while freshman Vanessa Coleman added a personal best 18. The Lady Hornets (8-9, 3-5 MIAA) outscored the Jennies 44-22 in the paint and went 12 of 12 from the free throw line in the second half.
In the men’s game, the Hornets never led with time on the clock, but a Jack Weigus 3-pointer lifted ESU to an 89-88 victory in overtime. The Mules started strong out of the game with an 18-6 run to start the game, but the Hornets settled down and cut the deficit with a pair of runs, including a 9-0 run just before halftime to trail by seven at the break. The Mules broke away again to build their lead to 16 before Dallas Bear hit three-straight shots as part of a personal 8-0 run to slash the deficit in half. A later 10-2 run brought the Hornets within three with just over eight minutes to go. The Hornets continued to close and finally tied the game for the first time with less than five minutes to play. Weigus tied the game with 27 seconds left in regulation and the Mules missed two shots to win in the final moments.
In the overtime, ESU had three shots on their opening possession to take the lead and missed all of them. ESU started the overtime just 1 of 9 from the field, but the Mules never led by more than five. A Chris Harris 3-pointer cut the deficit to two before Bear tied the game on a fadeaway. UCM went back in front with eight seconds to play, but Trey Redd drove through traffic and found Weigus in the corner who nailed the trifecta as time expired. Head coach Tom Billeter said it was a gutsy win.
Weigus led the Big Gold with a career high 23 points and a personal best five three-pointers. Weigus said the last play came together quickly.
Freshman Lazarek Houston scored 32 points in defeat for the Mules. Chris Harris added 17 for the Hornets. The Hornets outscored the UCM bench 52-5. ESU (6-11, 2-6 MIAA) is on the road for a four-game road trip beginning Thursday at Northeastern State. Pregame coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9
