EMPORIA STATE MEN OPEN MIAA PLAY WITH 60-56 WIN AT NEB.-KEARNEY

December 6, 2018-The Emporia State men hit five of six free throws in the final 33.1 seconds to secure a 60-56 win at Neb.-Kearney to open MIAA play.
 
The Hornets led 9-4 early but the Lopers responded with a 14-3 run to go up by six with 9:39 left in the first half.  Emporia State answered with an 11-3 run of their own and Justin Washington's old-fashioned three-point play gave the Hornets a 23-21 lead with 3:43 left in the half.  Duncan Fort got an old-fashioned three-point play of his own with 1:36 left to put the Hornets up 28-23 before Carter Burns hit a three for the Lopers to pull within two 11 seconds later.  Malik Hluchoweckyj scored at the buzzer to give Emporia State a 30-26 lead at the break.
 
Hluchoweckyj scored the first points of the second half but the Lopers went on a 6-0 run of their own to tie the game at 32 with 17:22 left in the game.  The Hornets answered with a 7-0 run to take a 39-32 lead on Justin Washington's layup with 14:47 remaining.  Washington hit another layup with 10:26 left to give Emporia State a 44-38 lead only to see UNK go on a 9-0 run capped by a Kanon Koster jumper with 7:43 left. 
 
The Hornets turned up the pressure to retake the lead as they got six points off three steals capped by Kooper Glick's steal and layup with 2:38 left to take a 55-49 lead.  Koster hit back to back three-pointers to tie the game at 55 with 1:21 left on what would be the last field goal made of the night. Kooper Glick got another steal with 37 seconds left and hit one of two free throws to give the Hornets the lead.  After Koster missed two layups inside with under 20 seconds left Aaron McGee made two free throws with 14.8 seconds left.  Up three, Emporia State fouled Chase Winchester with 6.8 seconds left.  He hit one free throw before Grant Shell secured the rebound and then converted both charities with 5.8 seconds left to secure the win.
 
Justin Washington had 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench while Kooper Glick and Malik Hluchoweckyj each scored 11 points.
 
The Hornets continue their road trip on Saturday when they take on Ft. Hays State in Hays, Kan.  Tip-off from Gross Coliseum is set for 3:30 p.m.