EMPORIA STATE MEN SURVIVE BATTLE WITH NEWMAN

Men's Basketball | 12/15/2013 6:42:00 PM

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December 15, 2013-Emporia State's Micah Swank hit a three-pointer with 12.7 seconds left for the lead and Kaleb Wright hit four of four free throws with 0.1 seconds left to give the Hornets an 86-81 win over Newman on Sunday at White Auditorium. 

The Jets jumped out to an 8-1 lead before the Hornets responed with a 7-0 run of their own to tie the game at 8-8 with 16:27 left in the first half. A steal and dunk by Terrence Moore gave the Hornets their first lead of the day at 16-14 with 11:18 remaining and they would not trail the rest of the half.  A Jack Pyle lay-up at the buzzer pulled Newman with 39-35 at the break.

Newman would score the first ten points of the second half to take a 45-39 lead before Wright hit a lay-up out of a timeout to break the 12-0 run.  The Jets would push their lead to eight points with 15:32 left at 53-45 when the Hornets responded with a 12-2 run of their own to retake the lead at 57-55 with 12:43 left. After a back and forth period of about five minutes, Newman used an 11-3 run to take a seven point lead with 5:02 left. 

Paul Bunch and Wright combined on a 7-2 run to pull the Hornets within two points and Josh Pedersen tied the score at 77 with 2:52 left on a pair of free throws.  Jeremy Espinoza hit a layup with 2:30 remaining to put Newman back on top before Pedersen hit two more charities with 1:32 left to tie the game again.  Marquis Cuyler hit a pair of free throws with 27 seconds left to put the Jets ahead 81-79.  Swank then hit his three from the top of the key with 12.7 left to give the Hornets the lead.  Bunch blocked a Cuyler lay-up with four seconds left and Newman Coach Mark Potter was hit with two technicals when the ball was awarded out of bounds after a scrum on the baseline.  Wright then hit all four free throws for the final score of 86-81.

Wright had a career high 35 points with five assists adn four rebounds.  Moore had 14 points, six rebounds, six steals and five assists while Pedersen added 12 points off the bench.  Bunch ended the game with seven points and six blocked shots.

Emporia State returns to MIAA play on Wednesday, December 15 when they play host to Southwest Baptist.  Tip-off from Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium is set for 7:30 p.m.