February 22, 2018-For the sixth time this year Emporia State gave up at least a nine point lead in a game as they lost 68-66 at Northeastern State on Thursday in Tahlequah, Okla. It is the seventh time the Hornets have lost on the final possession of the game.
The first eight minutes were tight with two ties and six lead changes before the Hornets went on a 9-0 run to take a 21-13 lead with 10:50 left in the half. The RiverHawks pulled within four at 26-22 with 8:09 left before Malik Hluchoweckyj hit a three pointer to break the run. Emporia State closed the half on a 15-4 run to take a 41-26 lead into the locker rooms.
The Hornets would not score for the first 3:12 of the second half and the RiverHawks took advantage by opening the period on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 41-37 with 17:05 left. Hassan Thomas and Brandon Hall both scored to push the lead back to 45-37 with 16:27 left when Northeastern State went on an 11-2 run. Jamir Andrews three-pointer gave the RiverHawks a 48-47 lead with 13:03 remaining.
The Teams bounced back and forth over the next four and a half minutes with Brian Morton's layup with 8:39 left giving Emporia State a 59-57 lead. It would be the last score for Emporia State for 6:57 but Northeastern State could only muster six points during that time to take a 63-59 lead. Morton hit a three-pointer with 1:42 left to break the drought and pull Emporia State within a point. Brandon Hall then got a steal on the next possession and would hit a layup with 1:08 left to give the Hornets a 64-63 lead.
Andrews buried a three-pointer with 34.8 seconds left to put the RiverHawks up 66-64. Hall came through again and scored on a pull up jumper with 16.8 seconds left to tie the score at 66-66. The Hornets played solid defense and Andrews was forced to up an off balanced floater that went in with 2.1 seconds left. Emporia State did not have any timeouts but was able to get the ball into Hall who took a half courts shot that was wide left as time expired.
Hall led Emporia State with 15 points and six assists and was joined in double figures by Brian Morton with 12 points.
Emporia State will wrap up the regular season on Saturday afternoon at Central Oklahoma. They will need to defeat the Bronchos and have both Missouri Western and Northeastern State lose in order to prolong their season on to a first round MIAA tournament road game on Tuesday.
NOTES
Brandon Hall's 15 points brings his career total to 995 and he needs just five points to become the 25
th Hornet to score 1000 career points.
