February 23, 2017-Emporia State battled back from a 17 point deficit and had a six point lead with 7:42 left before falling 69-65 to Northeastern State on Thursday night at White Auditorium. The loss ensures the Hornets will play an MIAA Tournament first round game on Monday night with the location dependent on the outcome of Saturday's Senior Day game with Central Oklahoma.
The RiverHawks took a 7-0 lead as the Hornets did not score for the first 3:28 of the game. Northeastern State led by 16 points with 5:47 left in the half when Emporia State went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 27-17 with 4:32 remaining. The RiverHawks answered with a 7-0 run of their own to take their biggest lead at 34-17 with 2:45 to go. They still led 36-19 with 2:04 left when the Hornets closed the half on a 12-0 run, getting four points in the five seconds. Brandon Hall hit a layup and then Tyler Jordan got a steal and jumper to go at the buzzer to pull the Hornets within 36-31 at the break.
Northeastern State had a 47-43 lead with 13:06 left when Jevon Taylor hit back to back three-pointers to ignite an 11-1 run by Emporia State. Garin Vandiver tipped in his own miss to give the Hornets a 54-48 lead with 7:42 remaining. The RiverHawks scored the next six points to force the first tie of the game at 54 with 5:43 left. The Hornets went up 58-54 with 4:24 left on a layup by Hall, but the RiverHawks went on a 13-3 run over the next 2:55 to take a 67-61 lead with 1:29 left. NSU went seven of seven from the free throw line and three of three from the field during the run while Emporia State was one of three from the field and one of two from the line with a turnover during the 2:55 run.
Josh Pedersen hit one of two free throws with 1:16 left and then buried a three-pointer with 39.6 seconds left to pull the Hornets within two at 67-65. Montre Williams threw the ball out of bounds with 13.1 left to give the Hornets a shot but Tyler Jordan could not get a shot at the rim to fall and Karon Waller hit two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to ice the win for the RiverHawks.
Tyler Jordan led the Hornets with 14 points and was joined in double figures by Brandon Hall with 11 points. Stephaun Limuel had a game high 11 rebounds.
Emporia State will play their final home game of the regular season on Saturday afternoon against Central Oklahoma. With a win the Hornets will have a shot at a first round home game in the MIAA tournament, but with a loss will be assured of going on the road for the first round on Monday.
