December 9, 2017-Emporia State used a 20-4 run over six minutes in the second half to take a 48-45 lead but only scored 38 points in the other 34 minutes of action in a 69-58 loss to Ft. Hays State on Saturday in White Auditorium.
The Hornets led 10-7 on a pair of Brandon Hall free throws out of the first media timeout with 14:27 left in the first half. The Tigers then went on a 17-4 run to take a 24-14 lead with 7:45 left in the half. Garin Vandiver scored on back to back possessions for Emporia State to break the run. The two teams played basically even the rest of the half as Ft. Hays State took a 34-25 lead to the locker rooms.
The Tigers extended the lead to 13 at 41-28 on a layup by Brady Werth with 16:43 left in the game. Stephaun Limuel, who picked up his second foul just 3:22 into the game and sat out the remainder of the half, started the Hornets comeback with a three-pointer at the 16:30 mark. After a Gillum Hadley layup pushed the lead back to 12, Emporia State rolled off eight straight points to cut the FHSU lead to 43-39 with 13:20 left and force the Tigers to call time out. Ft. Hays State got a bucket out of the timeout to go up 45-39 but Vandiver answered with a three-pointer to start a 9-0 run that gave Emporia State a 48-45 lead with 10:28 left.Â
Brandon Hall would hit two free throws with 10:11 left to give the Hornets a 50-47 lead before the Tigers went on a 9-0 run to take the lead for good. Vandiver scored inside and Brian Morton hit one of two free throws to get Emporia State within three points at 56-53 with 4:01 left but Ft. Hays State answered with a 7-0 run to push the lead back to double digits with 1:44 remaining.
Vandiver led Emporia State with 17 points and six rebounds and was joined in double figures by Brandon Hall with 11 points and four assists. Stephaun Limuel, who had double-doubles in each of his last two games, was held to eight points and five rebounds in just 16 minutes due to foul trouble.
The Hornets will turn their attention to the classroom for finals week before heading to Jefferson City, Mo. on Saturday, December 16 to take on Lincoln. Tip-off from Jason Gymnasium is set for 3:30 p.m.
