EMPORIA STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL FORCES OT BEFORE FALLING TO SWOSU

November 8, 2019-Emporia State battled from 12 points down with 12 minutes left to force overtime before falling 82-73 to Southwestern Oklahoma in Russellville, Ark. on Friday night.
 
Devin Rottweiler hit a three-pointer to give Emporia State a 17-11 lead with 10:54 left in the first half.  Southwestern Oklahoma then went on a 9-0 run to take a 20-17 lead with 8:-09 remaining.  The Hornets responded with an 11-0 run of their own to go up 28-20 with 5:37 left in the half.  An old fashioned three-point play with 3:12 left had the Hornets up 31-24 but the Bulldogs would end the half on a 10-2 run and Kamden Gipson's three pointer gave SWOSU a 34-33 lead at the break.
 
Southwestern was able to build on their lead throughout the first eight minutes of the second half and had a 52-40 lead with 12:11 left.  Gage McGuire and Jumah'Ri Turner combined on a 7-0 run over the next three minutes to pull the Hornets within five points. A Brenden Van Dyke dunk on a fast break made it 54-51 with 7:47 remaining only to see the Bulldogs go on a 5-1 mini-run to take a seven point lead under two minutes later.
 
SWOSU led 63-59 at the final media timeout when Emporia State went on a 6-0 run.  The Hornets force a shot clock violation with 59.1 seconds left and Turner hit a three-pointer with 48 seconds left to give Emporia State their first lead since the first half.  Marquis Johnson missed a three pointer for the Bulldogs and Dallas Bailey was fouled with 18.8 seconds left.  He hit one of two to give Emporia State a 67-64 lead.   After a scramble for the ball Damion Thornton hit a three pointer from the top of the key to tie the score with 11 seconds left and Turner's three pointer at the buzzer missed to send the game to overtime.
 
Bralyn James scored inside to start the overtime for SWOSU and Van Dyke hit one of two free throws for the Hornets to pullwithin 69-68 with 4:01 left.  Anthony Love gave the Bulldogs a two possession lead on a three-pointer with 3:47 left. The Hornets got a pair of free throws from Justin Williams with 2:59 left to pull within 72-70 but Johnson hit another three-pointer with 2:17 left to give SWOSU a 75-70 lead.  With Emporia State down seven, Turner hit a three-pointer to make it 77-73 but that would be the last points for the Hornets while the Bulldogs got another three from Johnson and hit a pair of free throws to give SWOSU the 82-73 victory.
 
Jumah'Ri Turner had 24 points to lead three Hornets in double figures.  Brenden Van Dyke had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Justin Williams added 11 points.
 
The Hornets will be back in action on Saturday night when they take on the host school Arkansas Tech.  Tip-off from Tucker Coliseum in Russellville, Ark. is set for 5:00 p.m.