EMPORIA STATE BATTLES MISSOURI SOUTHERN IN 80-77 LOSS IN JOPLIN

January 26, 2019-For the third time in the last four games Emporia State had a ten point second half lead only to see their opponent come back, this time in an 80-77 Missouri Southern win.
 
Emporia State jumped out to an 8-3 lead 2:45 into the game on back to back three-pointers from Justin Washington and Malik Hluchoweckyj.  The two teams battled back and forth over the next 12 minutes until Southern got a three-pointer followed by a layup from Reggie Tharp to take a 29-23 lead with 4:39 left in the half.  The Hornets would cut the lead to a single point on a Julius Jackson three-pointer with four seconds left to make it 35-34 at the break.
 
Jackson's three-pointer would be the start of a 14-0 that extended into the second half.  Hluchoweckyj gave the Hornets a 36-35 lead with 19:13 left before Emporia State got back to back to back three-pointers from Hassan Thomas, Duncan Fort and Sawyer Glick to take a 45-35 lead with 17:06 left in the game.  The Lions responded with a 12-5 run of their own to pull within 50-47 with 12:22 left.  The Hornets then pushed the lead back to eight, the last at 64-56 with 8:43 remaining.  Southern then went on a 10-3 run to pull within a point with 5:56 left on a Braelon Walker three-pointer.
 
Walker gave the Lions their first lead of the second half with 3:15 left.  Jackson answered with put back at the 2:51 mark to give Emporia State a 72-71 lead.  Emporia State went up 74-73 with 1:17 left on two free throws from Justin Washington.  Elyjah Clark put the Lions back in front with a jumper at the 1:06 mark.  Washington missed a three-pointer with 53 seconds left to give the ball back to Southern.  The Hornets forced an missed three-pointer by Clark and after a video review it was determined that the Lions had the ball with 2 seconds on the shot clock and 15.1 left in the game.  Walker it a three off the inbounds play to make 78-74 with 12.3 seconds left.  Emporia State got the ball inbounds and up court quickly as Sawyer Glick buried a three-pointer with 6.2 left to pull within a point.  Kinzer Lambert was fouled with what was originally shown as 3.7 seconds left.  After a video review it was determined that the clock did not start on time after Glick's three and the clock was set at 1.9 seconds.  Lambert hit both free throws to make it 80-77.  Kooper Glick made a three-quarter court pass to Hassan Thomas who was able to catch and turn but his three-pointer was off the mark as the clock expired.
 
Julius Jackson led Emporia State with 22 points on seven of nine shooting, including a five of six effort from behind the three-point line.  Malik Hluchoweckyj scored 12 points before leaving the game with an ankle injury with 4:01 left.  Justin Washington and Kam Rowan each added ten points for Emporia State.
 
The Hornets will be back in action on Thursday, January 31 when they play host to Lindenwood. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at White Auditorium.