Box Score November 22, 2016 - The Emporia State men's basketball teams' comeback from a 21 point deficit fell short as the Hornets lost 83-79 to Northwestern Oklahoma. Brian Morton led Emporia State with 24 points, three steals and six assists.
After two tied scores in the first eight points, the Rangers went on a 8-1 run over the next five and a half minutes to take a 12-5 lead with 11:19 left in the first half. Back-to-back threes from Jevon Taylor closed the gap 15-13 for the Hornets with 8:51 to play in the first half. Emporia State stayed within eight points until a three-pointer from Northwestern Oklahoma's Cody Halvorson gave the Rangers a 13 point lead, 1:34 remaining in the first half. A pair of free throw shots from Jay Temaat and one from Brandon Hall brought Emporia State within ten to end the half trailing 32-22. The Hornets shot 25.8% from the field in the first half.
An 8-1 run by the Rangers to begin the first half gave them a 19 point lead 42-23 with 16:11 to play. Northwestern Oklahoma took the largest lead of the game at 56-35 with 12:16 remaining after Trey Johnson converted on two free throws. With less than six minutes to play, Emporia State came within eight points after going on a 14-6 run to trail 65-57. The Hornets came within five at 68-63 after a Temaat three with 3:28 to play. Northwestern Oklahoma went on an 8-2 run to take an 11 point lead with 1:29 left. Morton converted on two free throws to bring Emporia State within nine at 76-67 with 1:24 to play. Tyler Jordan drained a three, assisted by Morton with 35 seconds to play, Hornets trailing 78-72. Another three pointer from Temaat, again assisted by Morton, brought Emporia state within four at 80-76 with 14 seconds remaining. A three from Morton with one second remaining was a few plays too late as the Rangers shot four from six from the stripe in the final 18 seconds, giving them the edge, as Emporia State fell 83-79.
Morton led with 24 points shooting five for six from both three point range and the stripe and seven for nine from the field. Temaat joined in double digits with 11 points, Jordan adding ten points and five rebounds. Stephaun Limuel and Garin Vandiver led the Hornets with six rebounds a piece. The Hornets had 11 threes in the second half, shooting 50% from the arc.
Emporia State will travel to Springfield, Mo. for the Drury Thanksgiving Classic. The Hornets will face Drury at 3:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25.
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