EMPORIA STATE MEN BATTLE #2 NORTHWEST MISSOURI ON THE ROAD

January 9, 2019-Emporia State used a 13-3 run in the second half to pull within six points before #2 Northwest Missouri pulled away to a 79-59 win in Maryville, Mo. on Wednesday night.

The Hornets led 8-6 with 15:04 left on a Malik Hluchoweckyj three-pointer before the Bearcats went on a 13-0 run to go up 19-8 with 8:33 left in the half.  NWMSU would go up 37-21 with 59 seconds left in the half on the strength of an 8-0 run.  Kooper Glick hit two free throws with 1.1 seconds left to send the teams to the locker rooms with Northwest leading 37-23.  The difference in the half was the Bearcats scored 13 points off seven Emporia State turnovers while Northwest did not turn the ball over in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Kooper Glick hit a three-pointer to start the second half and his old fashioned three-point play with 17:34 left cut the Bearcat lead to 39-29.  Back to back three-pointers by Joey Withus and Ryan Hawkins gave the Bearcats a 16 point lead with 16:33 left in the game.  Kooper Glick and Hluchoweckyj then combined on an 8-0 run and two Glick free throws with 13:01 left cut the lead below double digits at 45-37.  Hawkins hit another three-pointer  to put the Bearcats up 11 only to have Hluchoweckyj drive the lane for two and Glick hit a three-pointer to make it 48-42 with 11:44 left. 
 
Northwest got another three-pointer, this one from Trevor Hudgins, to go up 51-42.  Hluchoweckyj got a steal and found Hassan Thomas for a dunk at the 10:29 mark to make it 51-44 and after a Joey Witthus bucket Glick hit another three to bring the Hornets within six at 53-47 with 9:35 remaining.  The Bearcats then went on an 8-2 run to push their lead back to double digits.  Witthus scored all eight points during the run and would score 16 straight Bearcat points capped by a four-point play with 5:24 left that gave Northwest a 67-52 lead.  The Bearcats would then go on a 12-1 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 79-53 with 1:36 left.  Grant Shell and Justin Washington each hit a three pointer in the final 1:15 for Emporia State to make the final scored 79-59.
 
Kooper Glick led Emporia State with 22 points, five rebounds and two blocks while Hluchoweckyj contributed 14 points and three assists. 
 
The Hornets will travel to St. Joseph, Mo. on Saturday to take on Missouri Western.  Tip-off in the MWSU Fieldhouse is set for 4:00 p.m.