HORNETS IMPROVE TO 2-0 IN MIAA WITH 69-66 WIN OVER FORT HAYS STATE

December 7, 2019-Emporia State improved to 2-0 in the MIAA for the first time since 2015-16 with a 69-66 win over Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon in White Auditorium.
 
The Hornets jumped out to a 15-4 lead over the first six minutes of action with the guard combo of Jumah'ri Turner and Keyon Thomas combining for the first 11 points for ESU.  Emporia State still led 24-17 when the Tigers went on a 10-2 run to take their first lead of the game at 27-26 with 6:34 left in the half. Gage McGuire hit a three-pointer with 4:57 left to put the Hornets back in front but FHSU ended the half on an 8-2 run to lead 35-31 going to the locker rooms.
 
Jake Hutchings hit a three-pointer to start the second half and give Fort Hays State their biggest lead at 38-31 just 15 seconds into the period. The Tigers still led 40-33 with 18:33 left when the Hornets began a 15-2 run.  Brenden Van Dyke jump started the run with an alley oop off an inbounds play from Justin Williams and Williams scored the next five points on a three-pointer and jumper in the lane to tie the game at 40 with 15:05 left.  Out of the under 15 media Williams fed Devin Rottweiler inside for a bucket for the ninth straight point for Emporia State.  Nyjee Wright broke the run with a jumper just outside the lane for the Tigers but Turner answered with four straight points to retake the lead. Williams got a steal and fed Van Dyke for a break away dunk with 10:57 left to give the Hornets a 48-42 lead and force the Tigers into a timeout.
 
The Tigers closed to within 51-49 with 9:14 left but the Hornets got an old fashioned three-point play from Williams to go up 54-49 with 8:08 remaining.  Turner would score six points during a 8-2 run and gave Emporia State a 64-55 lead with 2:12 left on a pair of free throws.  Wright would score seven straight for the Tigers during a 7-2 run and pulled them within two at 68-66 on a three-pointer with 39 seconds left.  With the shot clock running out Turner missed a three-pointer and the Tigers grabbed the rebound.  Devin Davis missed a layup inside and Duncan Fort pulled the rebound with 2.7 seconds left.  Fort hit one of two free throws to give the Hornets a 69-66 lead and Aaron Nicholson's halfcourt shot was off the mark for the Tigers.
 
Jumah'Ri Turner led the Hornets with 18 points and was joined in double figures by Brenden Van Dyke with 11 and Keyon Thomas with ten points.  Van Dyke had a team high six rebounds while Thomas dished four assists.
 
This was the final game of 2019 for Emporia State as the Hornets are not back in action again until January 1, 2020.  Tip-off against Baker in the final non-conference game is set for 7:30 p.m. in White Auditorium.