The Emporia State basketball teams split a doubleheader with Northeastern State at the NSU Event Center in Tahlequah, Okla. Thursday.
The Hornet men picked up their first road win of the year beating the RiverHawks 84-71. ESU started hot with an 11-2 run and led 15-7 through the first five minutes, but NSU soared in front by scoring the next nine points. ESU rallied and built the lead to nine in the half and led 47-42 at the break. NSU took advantage of missed ESU layups early after the intermission and went on a 15-3 run to take a three-point lead, but ESU used a 12-2 run to take the lead back and hold on for the win. Treyvon Taylor scored a career-high 21 points and was key to start the run back to the lead for the Hornets. He said his teammates have made him tougher in practice.
Head coach Tom Billeter said the team is continuing to improve and Trey Redd is leading the way.
Redd scored 17 points with 10 assists for his first double-double as a Hornet. Chris Harris added 18 points.
In the women’s game, the RiverHawks answered a game-opening basket by ESU with eight-straight points and never trailed again in a 74-57 victory over the Lady Hornets. It is the biggest win for NSU in the history of their series with the Hornets. NSU used a 7-1 run to build a 12-point lead at halftime, then hit the Big Gold with a 13-3 run early in the third quarter. NSU polished off E-State with a 10-1 run to end the third and ESU never got closer than 15 in the fourth. For head coach MJ Baker, the team has to figure out a way to give better effort on the road.
ESU shot just 35 percent from the field. No Lady Hornet scored in double figures. Gracie Gilpin led the way with 9 points. ESU (9-9, 3-6 MIAA) was outscored 25-15 in points off turnovers in the game. ESU returns to action Friday at Arkansas-Fort Smith. The doubleheader begins at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on Mix 104.9.
