EMPORIA STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL SUFFERS FOURTH STRAIGHT LOSS

January 24, 2018-The Emporia State men went over ten minutes without a field goal as a four point first half deficit ballooned to 23 points in the second half of a 77-59 loss to Central Missouri on Wednesday night in White Auditorium.
 
The Mules used a 12-1 run early in the first half to take a 22-8 lead on Jakob Lowrance's old-fashioned three-point play with 13:36 left.  Grant Shell hit a pair of free throws with 4:12 left and then buried a three-pointer with 3:32 to go in the first half to pull Emporia State within 32-28.  That would be the last field goal of the half for the Hornets as the Mules closed the period on a 7-2 run to take a 39-30 lead into the locker rooms. 
 
The Hornets would be held scoreless in the second half until Shell hit two free throws with 13:29 left that broke a 15-0 run by the Mules.  The field goal drought stretched for another 29 seconds until Shell jumper with 13:00 minutes left to make it 55-34.  Emporia State went on a 13-2 run and cut the deficit to 12 on a three-pointer from Stephaun Limuel with 6:38 remaining.  The teams traded three-pointers with Lowrance hitting one for UCM before Brandon Hall answered with one of his own to make it 65-53 with 5:57 left.  Lowrance hit another three-pointer and the Mule hit four straight free throws to go back up 72-53 with 3:24 left before cruising to the 18 point victory.
 
Grant Shell led Emporia State with 15 points but was the only Hornet in double figures.
 
Emporia State will be back in action on Sunday, January 28 when they play host to Southwest Baptist.  Tip-off in White Auditorium is set for 3:30 p.m.