March 1, 2016-A 14-1 run by Emporia State forced a tie with 30.6 seconds left but Rod Ollison hit a shot with 4.0 seconds left and Lincoln pulled out a 73-71 win in the first round of the MIAA Tournament in Jefferson City, Mo. on Tuesday night.
PLAYING FROM BEHIND
Emporia State was down most of the game, falling behind 12-4 at the first media timeout. The Hornets used an 8-1 run to pull with a point at 13-12 with 12:21 left in the half before the Blue Tigers pushed the lead back to seven with 7:02 remaining. Emporia State tied the game at 25 and at 27 before going to the locker room down 34-33.
BIG RUN
A layup by Terrence Moore and a three-poiner by Tyler Jordan to start the second half gave the Hornets a 38-36 lead with 18:56 remaining. Jordan's three would be the last score by Emporia State until Moore hit a three with 12:46 left. Lincoln took advantage of the 6:10 dry spell to open up a 50-38 lead and the run would reach 19-3 as they took a 55-41 lead with 11:39 remaining in the game.
FINAL RUN
The teams played even over the next six and a half minutes and the Blue Tigers led 70-56 with 5:09 remaining. Moore and Allen then combined on a 13-0 run to get the Hornets back in the game. Moore started things with a three-pointer at the 4:53 mark and Allen converted an old fashioned three-point play iwth 3:36 left to cut the lead to eight. Allen put back his own miss with 2:42 remaining to cut the lead to 70-64. An offensive foul on Ollison gave the Hornets the ball back with 2:25 left and Moore nailed a three-pointer with 2:05 left to make it a 70-67 game. The Hornets forced a shot clock violation and got the ball back with 1:28 remaining. Moore was fouled and hit both free throws to make it 70-69 with 1:18 left. Tacourrus Mattox was fouled inside with 58.1 left and hit one of two to give the Blue Tigers a 71-69 lead. Moore was fouled with 30.6 left and converted both free throws to tie the game at 71. Lincoln called time out with 14.4 remaining and Richie Lewis found Ollison underneath with 4.0 remaining for the win. Brandon Hall got the ball and raced up court but his 30 footer was off the mark.
BY THE NUMBERS
Kevin Allen had 21 points and 14 rebounds with a career high three blocked shots for his third double-double in the last five games. Terrence Moore had 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists. They were joined in double figures by Brandon Hall and Jevon Taylor with ten points each. As a team Emporia State was 26 of 55 from the field, hit eight of 23 three-pointers and were 11 of 14 from the free throw line connecting on 11 straight to end the game. Lincoln went 23 of 51 from the field, hitting six threes, and converted 21 of 29 from the free throw line. The Hornets, who entered the game leading the MIAA in turnover margin and ranked 16th in the nation in fewest turnovers, had 16 turnovers and were -10 on the night.
END OF THE ROAD
Terrence Moore ended his career with 1,638 points to rank fifth all-time at Emporia State. He was second in career steals for the Hornets with 230 in 112 career games. Micah Swank was the other four year senior on theis year's team and he ended his career with 642 points and 264 assists in 110 games.
