February 1, 2015-In a game that saw 12 ties and 15 lead changes Terrence Moore scored 27 points to lead Emporia State to a 74-72 win over Neb.-Kearney on Super Bowl Sunday in White Auditorium.
The Hornets fell behind 8-0 to start the game and trailed 10-3 with 15:09 left in the half. Josh Pedersen and Moore then combined on a 9-2 run to force the first of the four ties in the first half with 13:10 left in the frame. From that point on the lead would not be higher than five points for either team the rest of the night. The Hornets led 30-26 with 2:46 left on a Micah Swank three-pointer, but Connor Beranek and Trey Landsman gave the Lopers a 31-30 lead with 1:37 remaining. With the shot clock winding down, Moore hit a jumper in the lane with 1:02 left to give the Hornets a 31-30 lead going to the locker rooms.
The Lopers scored the first four points of the second half to take a 35-32 lead and held the lead until a three-pointer by Jevon Taylor gave the Hornets a 37-36 lead with 16:17 left. Over the next 14 minutes neither team took more than a three point lead. Moore scored four straight points to give the Hornets the lead for good at 65-61 with 2:03 left. Beranek had an old-fashioined three-point play with 1:48 left to pull the Lopers within a point. Moore answered with a hoop and the harm of his own to put the Hornets back up 68-64 with 1:31 remaining. Beranek nailed a heat check three-pointer from nearly 30 feet to cut the lead to 68-67 with 1:18 left.
After a missed three-pointer by Swank with 48 seconds left gave the ball back to the Lopers, Neb.-Kearney's Trey Lansman was called for an offensive foul with 40.4 seconds left. Jay Temaat found Moore behind the Loper defense for a break away layup and 70-67 lead with 38.8 seconds left. After a pair of missed three-pointers Isaiah McKay and Beranek, Taylor pulled a rebound and was fouled. He hit both free throws to give Emporia State a 72-67 lead with 18.0 seconds remaining. Beranek got the ball down court and scored with 12 seconds left to pull the Lopers within three at 72-69. Swank hit one of two free throws with :10.7 left to put the Hornets up 73-69. A three-pointer from Lane Rohrich cut the deficit to one point with 4.4 seconds left and Swank again hit one of two free throws with :03.2 left for the final score.
Moore had five rebounds and three assists to go with his 27 points. He was joined in double figures by Swank and Taylor with 12 points each. Taylor led the Hornets with a career high six rebounds.
Emporia State will be back in action on Wednesday night when they play host to Washburn. Tip-off for the 210th edition of the Turnpike Tussle is set for 7:30 p.m. from Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium.Â
NOTES
Moore's 27 points give him 1,050 points in his 76 games and moved him past Dennis Supple for 21st in career scoring at Emporia State.
