HORNET MEN'S COMEBACK COMES UP SHORT AT ROCKHURST

November 16, 2016-Emporia State slashed a 22 point half time deficit down to two with 1:08 left but Rockhurst hit two of four free throws to secure an 81-78 win on Wednesday night in Kansas City, Mo.
 
The Hawks scored the first seven points of the game and led 19-7 before the Hornets hit their second field goal.  Emporia State would then go on a 7-0 run to pull within five points at 19-14 with 10:47 left in the half.  Rockhurst answered with a 12-0 run to go up 31-14 with 8:00 left in the period and would take a 50-28 lead into the locker rooms.
 
As cold as they were in the first half, the Hornets came out on fire in the second half, scoring the first 11 points of the period to cut the Hawk lead in half at 50-39 just 2:25 into the second period.  Rockhurst pushed the lead back to 16 when Emporia State went on an 8-0 run capped by Brandon Hall's fast break layup with 13:43 left.  
 
The deficit stayed between seven and 11 for the next eight minutes until Josh Pedersen hit a pair of free throws with 5:52 left to pull the Hornets within 67-61. 
 
A tip in by Stephaun Limuel made it a two-point game at 75-73 with 1:52 remaining. The two teams traded free throws and Limuel's two had the Hornets within 77-75 with 1:08 left.  Undra Wilson drove the lane and got the roll with 35.6 seconds left to put the Hawks up by four and Alex Hagan hit two free throws with 26.0 seconds left to make it 81-75.  A Tyler Jordan dunk with 15.2 left cut the lead to 81-77.  Forced to foul the Hornets sent Mason Loewen to the line where he missed two free throws with 11.2 seconds left and Jordan was able to get a steal off the rebound for the Hornets.  Hall's layup was off the mark and by the time Limuel corralled the rebound there was only 1.4 seconds left on the clock.  Limuel hit the first free throw and missed the second on purpose only to see Hagan get the board and seal the win for the Hawks.
 
Jordan had a career high 17 points and added six rebounds for the Hornets.  Jay Temaat had 16 points, Brandon Hall 15 and Stephaun Limuel scored 13 points with a team high nine rebounds.
 
The Hornets are back in action on Saturday night when they play host to Kansas Christian.  Assistant coach Dwayne Paul will act as head coach on Saturday while Shaun Vandiver is in Boulder, Colo. getting inducted into the University of Colorado Athletics Hall of Fame.