EMPORIA STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL SEES WINNING STREAK END AT FORT HAYS STATE

December 8, 2018-In a game that saw seven ties and 12 lead changes Emporia State fell 86-78 at Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon in Gross Coliseum.
 
The opening ten minutes were extremely tight as neither team could muster more than a three point lead until Aaron Nicholson's three-pointer with 8:58 left gave the Tigers a 19-14 lead.  The Hornets quickly responded and went on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 21 on Sawyer Glick's three-pointer with 7:10 left in the half.  FHSU pushed the lead back up to eight points at 33-25 with 3:39 left on a Devin Davis free throw.  Emporia State responded with an 11-4 run capped by Julius Jackson's three pointer with 59 seconds left to pull within 37-36.  Davis would score again with 37 seconds left to give the Tigers a 39-36 lead at the break.
 
Neither team could get a significant run to start the second half as FHSU would push the lead out to six points only to see Emporia State close back within one on several occasions.  The Hornets finally retook the lead with 11:22 left when Grant Shell was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three from the charity stripe for a 54-53 ESU lead.  The teams traded scores over the next five and a half minutes of action with Malik Hluchoweckyj scoring inside with 5:58 left to give the Hornets their last lead at 66-65 with 5:58 left. 
 
Brady Werth scored inside to give the Tigers the lead back and Nicholson hit a three-pointer to push the lead to 70-66 at the final media timeout.  Marcus Cooper hit two free throws out of the time out to cap a 7-0 run by the Tigers as they took a 72-66 lead with 4:10 remaining.  Ft. Hays State hit ten of 12 free throws in the final 2:12 to preserve the win.
 
Malik Hluchoweckyj had 20 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal to lead the Hornets while Justin Jackson had a team high 21 points.  They were joined in double figures by Justin Washington with 14 points and Kooper Glick with 13 points. 
 
The Hornets are back in action on Saturday, December 15 when they travel to Rockhurst.  Tip-off from Mason-Haplin Fieldhouse in Kansas City, Mo. is set for 2:00 p.m.