Men's Basketball | 3/4/2013 10:30:00 PM
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March 4, 2013-Emporia State saw a ten point half time lead disappear in a 68-66 loss to Missouri Southern in the first round of the MIAA Tournament on Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium. Marquis Addison hit two free throws with 3.5 seconds left to give the Lions the win.
Emporia State jumped out to a 16-5 lead to start the game and led by at least five points of most of hte first half. Southern closed to 34-29 with 4:06 left in the period. The Hornets responded with a 10-2 run to take a 44-31 lead with 1:00 left on a follow dunk by Paul Bunch. An old fashioned three point play by RJ Leverette cut the lead to 44-34 at the break.
The Lions scored the first five points of the second half to get back into the game and would later use an 11-2 run to take their first lead of the second half at 58-57 with 7:53 left in the game. There were four ties and six lead changes over the final eight minutes as neither team took more than an eight point lead.
Chris Sights gave the Hornets a 66-63 lead on a layup with 1:39 left. Addison hit one of two free throws with 1:18 left to cut the lead to two and after a missed three pointer by the Hornets' Gavin Brown, Stephen Atkinson hit two free throws with 31 seconds left to tie the game at 66.
Addison then stole the ball with 21 seconds left and Southern called timeout to set up a play. Terrence Moore knocked the ball out of bounds off of Addison with 4.4 seconds left to give the Hornets the ball underneath the Southern basket. Brown traveled out of bounds giving the ball back to the Lions. On the inbound Addison was fouled on a loose ball in front of the Southern bench and hit two free throws with 3.5 seconds left to put the Lions up 68-66. Emporia State inbounded to Sights who shot from half court and Moore had a chance at a tipped rebound as the clock expired.
Sights led Emporia State with 15 points while Moore added 13 points and a team high six rebounds. Paul Bunch was held to nine points on two of three shooting with four rebounds and five blocks in just 21 minutes as he battled foul problems most of the night.
For the 22nd time in 27 games the Hornets outscored their opponents from the field, this time outscoring the Lions 50-38. Missouri Southern went 30 of 34 from the foul line to off set a 16 of 18 performance from the stripe by Emporia State.
The Hornets end the season 13-14, a four game improvement over last season. They are set to return three of five starters and eight of their top ten players from this season.
