January 20, 2018-Emporia State used a 10-0 run to take a nine point lead with 7:00 left but could not hold on in a 77-74 loss at Missouri Southern on Saturday afternoon. Stephaun Limuel had a career game for the Hornets with 27 points, 13 rebounds, five steals and three assists before fouling out.
After both teams were held scoreless for the first two minutes, Missouri Southern went out to a 6-0 lead in less than 30 seconds. The Lions would still be up by six with 11:10 left when the Hornets went on a 8-2 run to tie the game at 19 with 9:08 left. Limuel gave Emporia State their first lead of the day at 29-28 on a put back with 2:59 left before Missouri Southern took a 34-32 lead into the half.
The Lions scored the first four points of the second half to go back up by six before Limuel hit a three-pointer and Brian Morton scored inside to cut the lead back to 38-37 with 18:03 to go. Southern went back up by six at 45-39 with 15:35 left but a three-pointer from Garin Vandiver and a layup out of the media time out by Malik Hluchoweckyj brought the Hornets back within one with 14:39 left.Â
Brandon Hall started a 6-0 run with a bucket just before the shot clock expired with 12:29 left and Limuel hit four straight free throws to give Emporia State a 55-51 lead with 11:09 left. A Grant Shell three-pointer gave Emporia State a 58-53 lead with 10:28 left before the Lions went on a 6-0 run of their own to retake the lead at 59-58 with 8:41 remaining.Â
The Hornets then put on their best spurt of the day as they went on a 10-0 run. Limuel ignited the run with a three-pointer and on the next possession had a steal and break away layup to give the Hornets a 63-59 lead with 8:08 left. On the next possession Hassan Thomas got a steal and Shell hit another three-pointer to give ESU a 66-59 lead. Limuel ended the run with a another steal and score off a Lion defensive rebound and Emporia State had a 68-59 lead with 7:00 left.
Southern got back to back three-pointers from CJ Carr and Elyjah Clark to cut the lead to three at 68-65 with 4:25 left before Thomas scored inside for Emporia State. Carr hit a pair of free throws to pull the Lions within three with 3:49 remaining. Hluchoweckyj turned the ball over and Braelon Walker converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 3:27 left that tied the score at 70. Limuel fouled out on the play.Â
The teams traded scores and the Lions would go up 75-73 on the first of two free throws from LJ Ross with 1:40 left. He missed the second and Shell grabbed the rebound for the Hornets. On the ensuing possession Morton was called for an illegal screen on a hand off and fouled out on the play with 1:31 left. Carr turned the ball over for the Lions with 1:14 left and Shell missed a three-pointer on the next possession. Hluchoweckyj grabbed the rebound and then turned it over as Carr stole the ball and Ross got out for a break away dunk with :57.3 left and a 77-73 Lion lead. Hall hit one of two free throws with :50.5 remaining to cut the lead to three. The Lions could not get a shot off in the next possession, giving Emporia State one last shot to tie. Vandiver got a three-pointer off from near the top of the key but it was off the mark and time expired before the Hornets could get foul.
Limuel had career highs of 27 points on nine of 11 shooting from the field and a career best three of three effort from the three-point arc. He tied his career high with five steals. His 13 rebounds gave him eight double-doubles on the season, with four in his last six games. Brandon Hall was the only other Hornet in double figures finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds.
The Hornets are back in action on Wednesday when they play host to Central Missouri. Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 7:30 p.m.
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