November 22, 2017-In one of the most bizarre finishes for an Emporia State basketball game in nine years, the Hornets fell 72-71 to Northwestern Oklahoma State in White Auditorium on Wednesday night. Brandon Hall had apparently hit a game winning three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Hornets a 73-72 win, but it was waved off after video review.
The Hornets had tied the game at 70 on an old-fashioned three-point play by Stephaun Limuel with 1:08 left in the game. The Rangers Cedric Collinge then turned the ball over with 43 seconds left. On Emporia State's possession Hassan Thomas was called for an offensive foul with 31.8 seconds remaining. Brandon Green put up a hook shot in the lane with seven seconds left that was off the mark. Treyvon Andres tried to tip dunk it but missed but was able to get another rebound and scored inside with 1.3 seconds left. The Ranger bench exploded onto the floor thinking the game was over, but Emporia State inbounded the ball to Hall who took three dribbles and heaved a half court shot that went in at the buzzer and momentarily gave Emporia State a 73-72 win.Â
The officials went to the video monitor to review the play and it was determined that the scoreboard operator could not see the ball get inbounded due to the Northwestern Oklahoma players on the floor and started the clock late. After reviewing the play with a stopwatch to determine how long Hall had the ball in his possession before shooting it, it was determined that he did not get the shot off within 1.3 seconds.  The shot was waved off, Northwestern Oklahoma was assessed a Class B Technical Foul for delay of game for coming on the court and the Hornets were awarded a free throw and the ball out of bounds under the Ranger basket. Hall hit the free throw but the pass on the inbounds play was deflected away at midcourt and time expired before Emporia State could get a shot off.
The game was tight throughout with 16 ties and 15 lead changes as neither team took more than a seven point lead. NWOSU jumped out to a 7-2 lead only to see Emporia State answer with a 9-0 run to go up 11-7 with 15:20 left in the first half. A three pointer by Malik Hluchoweckyj with 8:52 remaining gave the Hornets their biggest lead of the night at 18-11. The Rangers came back and took a 28-24 lead with 2:44 left but Emporia State scored the final six points of the half to take a 30-28 lead into the locker rooms.
Neither team led by more than four points in the second half until a three-pointer from Andres gave NWOSU a 55-50 advantage with 9:04 remaining. Limuel got a tip in and Hall scored inside to pull the Hornets back within a point with 6:36 left but Saba Gvedashvili nailed a three-pointer to put the Rangers up 58-54 just 21 seconds later. Hall scored back to back buckets to forge the 13th tie of the night and Grant Shell gave the Hornets the lead when he hit one of two free throws with out of the under five minute media timeout.
Shell hit a pair of free throws with 2:45 remaining to give Emporia State a 67-64 lead. Andres scored inside with 2:31 left and the Rangers hit four straight free throws to take a 70-67 lead with 1:27 remaining. Limuel was then able to get his old-fashioned three-point play following an offensive rebound that started the final minute of action.
Limuel led Emporia State with 14 points and nine rebounds to with two steals and two assists. Hluchoweckyj matched him in scoring honors with 14 points and added six rebounds. The were joined in double figures by Hall with 13 and Thomas with ten points.Â
Emporia State is back in action on Friday night as they play host to Newman at 7:00 p.m. on Slaymaker Court. They will follow the 5:00 p.m. game between Central Missouri and Rockhurst in the ESU Thanksgiving Classic.
