EMPORIA STATE MEN GET 73-67 ROAD WIN AT MISSOURI WESTERN

February 11, 2017-Emporia State used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to take control in a 73-67 win at Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Hornets have clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament.
 
The Griffons got out to an 8-2 lead at the first media time out.  Trailing 10-9 the Hornets went on a 9-0 run capped by back to back three-pointers by Josh Pedersen to take an 18-10 lead with 8:45 remaining in the half.  Missouri Western answered with three straight three-pointers of their own to retake the lead at 19-18 with 6:17 left.  The Griffons led by four with 1:05 remaining before Brian Morton hit a layup to cut the deficit to 25-23 going to the locker rooms.
 
A lay-up by Seth Bonifas pulled the Griffons to within 39-38 with 11:54 left in the game when the Hornets took control with a 10-0 run.  Jay Temaat had six and Brandon Hall four for the Hornets during the run as they took a 49-38 lead with 9:43 remaining.  Hall gave Emporia State a 63-54 lead on his hoop and the harm with 3:38 left in the game.  After a Bonifas layup, the Griffons scored five straight from the free throw line to cut the Hornet lead to two at 63-61 with 1:48 remaining. 
 
Emporia State then hit four straight from the line, two by Hall and two by Garin Vandiver to go back up by six with 51.3 seconds left.  Cole Clearman hit two three-pointers around a break away layup by Hall to cut the lead back to two with 19.6 seconds left.  Pedersen stepped to the line with 19.2 seconds remaining and hit two to add to his school record streak of made free throws and give Emporia State a 71-67 lead.  Temaat then iced it with two makes of his own with 10.2 left for the final score of 73-67.
 
Hall led five Hornets in double figures with 21 points and dished eight assists.  Jevon Taylor had 13 points, Temaat and Vandiver each scored 11 and Pedersen hit ten for Emporia State. Temaat and Taylor each hit three three-pointers.
 
Next up for the Hornets will be a Tuesday Turnpike Tussle in Topeka against Washburn.  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Lee Arena.
 
NOTES
Pedersen has now hit 30 consecutive free throws.