November 25, 2017-Emporia State placed four players in double figures as they pulled away in an 82-65 win over Rockhurst on Saturday night at White Auditorium. With the win the Hornets finished the ESU Thanksgiving Class with a 2-0 record.
Both teams got off to a fast start with Rockhurst leading 12-7 with 15:57 left as both teams combined to shoot seven of 13 from the field in the first four minutes. The Hawks would take their biggest lead a 18-11 with 13:16 remaining in the half. Emporia State used an 11-4 run to tie the game at 22 with 6:54 left in a fast break bucket by Malik Hluchoweckyj. Rockhurst scored next before the Hornets reeled off seven straight points to take a 29-24 lead with 4:02 left in the half. Emporia State would take a 34-32 lead into the locker rooms.
Grant Shell scored the first points of the second half for the Hornets before the Hawks went on a 5-0 mini-run to take a 37-36 lead with 18:41 left in the game. Shell would give the Hornets the lead back at 39-37 with a three-pointer at the 17:16 mark. A Gabe Brown follow dunk with 16:08 left for Rockhurst retied the game at 41 before the Hornets went on a 7-2 run to take the lead for good. The Hawks would close to within two with 13:47 left before Garin Vandiver hit a three-pointer and Brian Morton scored back to back buckets to put the Hornets up 57-48 with 11:35 remaining.
A three-pointer from Travis House would pull Rockhurst within 67-60 with 7:55 left before Emporia State put the game away with a 10-0 run. Brian Morton hit a three-pointer with 5:31 left to cap the run and give the Hornets a 77-60 lead with 5:31 remaining. Rockhurst would not get within 15 points the rest of the way as Emporia State finished out the 82-65 victory.
Brandon Hall led Emporia State with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists. He was joined in double figures by Brian Morton with 16 points, Hassan Thomas with 13 and Grant Shell with 11 points.
The Hornets, who including exhibitions have played six games in the last nine days, will have a full week before their next game against Rogers State. Tip-off on Saturday, December 2 in Claremore, Okla. is set for 4:00 p.m.
