January 13, 2019-In a game of runs Emporia State had the final one as they overcame a ten point deficit with under nine minutes left to pull out an 85-79 win at Missouri Western on Sunday afternoon.
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The Hornets scored the first five points of the game and led 17-7 with 15:10 left in the half to force a Missouri Western timeout. The lead would reach 16 points when Justin Washington buried a three with 11:14 left to make it 27-11. Malik Hluchoweckyj had a follow dunk with 6:20 left to give Emporia State a 33-23 lead. The Griffons then went on a 14-2 run to take a 37-35 lead with 1:11 left and Western took a 40-39 advantage to the locker rooms.
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Neither team took more than a three point lead over the first seven minutes of the second half. Washington scored on a put back with 12:04 left to bring the Hornets within 59-57. The Griffons then went on an 11-1 run and took their biggest lead of the night at 68-58 with 8:57 remaining. With Western leading 70-64, Hluchoweckyj and Julius Jackson combined for a 7-0 run to give the Hornets a 71-70 lead with 5:40 left. An Arron McGee steal led to a Hluchoweckyj fast break score to give Emporia State a 78-72 lead with 2:56 remaining. Bryan Hudson scored the last of his game high 28 points with 1:26 left to pull the Griffons within two with 1:26 left. Out of a timeout Kooper Glick missed a shot in the lane and Aaron McGee got the rebound and put it back in to put Emporia State up two possessions at 80-76 with 56.3 seconds left. The Hornets would hit five of six free throws in the final 21.2 seconds to ice the win.
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Justin Washington led the Hornets with career highs of 24 points and 17 rebounds. He was joined in double figures by Malik Hluchowecyj with 16 points, Sawyer Glick with 15 points and Kooper Glick with 12 points.
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The Hornets are back in action on Wednesday, January 16 when they play host to Ft. Hays State. Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 7:30 p.m.
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