HORNET MEN DROP LOW SCORING AFFAIR AT FT. HAYS STATE

January 31, 2018-Emporia State and Ft. Hays State were tied with 4:38 left but the Hornets would get just one field goal the rest of the way in a 58-50 loss to the Tigers in Hays, Kan. It is the sixth straight loss for the Hornets, their longest losing streak since 2011-12.
 
The first half had seven ties and five lead changes as neither team took more than a four point lead in the opening 20 minutes.  With the score tied at 22 with 2:04 left in the half, Marcus Cooper scored the final four points for FHSU to give the Tigers a 26-22 lead at the break.
 
Cooper would score the first points of the second half for the Tigers to give them their biggest lead at 28-22.  FHSU still led 37-31 with 13:41 left when the Hornets went on a 6-0 run thanks to a three pointer from Brian Morton and an old fashioned three-point play by Hassan Thomas to tie the score at 37 with 11:47 left.  Emporia State used a five point possession with 8:45 left to take their first lead of the second half.  Grant Shell hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to make it 41-40 and Stephaun Limuel was fouled away from the ball.  Limuel hit both free throw to put Emporia State up 42-41. 
 
Ft. Hays State scored the next six points to go up 47-42 with 6:18 left.  Emporia State would hold the Tigers scoreless for the next 4:12 but could only muster a three-pointer by Garin Vandiver and a pair of free throws from Thomas to tie the score at 47-47.  The Tigers finally scored with 2:06 left on a layup by Trey O'Neil to go up 49-47.  The Hornets worked the shot clock on the next possession but Brandon Hall could not get a jumper in the lane to fall and O'Neil came down and buried a three-pointer for a 52-47 Tiger lead with 1:14 left. 
 
The Hornets threw the ball away on their next possession but were able to force the Tigers into a rushed shot at the end of the shot clock. Hall grabbed the rebound and was able to feed Brian Morton for potential three-pointer on the break that missed.  FHSU then hit six of six from the free throw line around a Shell three-pointer for Emporia State to make the final score 58-50.
 
Hassan Thomas led Emporia State with 12 points and nine rebounds and Stephaun Limuel joined him in double figures with 11 points. 
 
The Hornets will try to bounce back on Saturday when they travel to Neb.-Kearney.  Tip-off at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney, Neb. is set for 5:30 p.m.