EMPORIA STATE MEN PULL AWAY LATE IN 89-77 WIN AT SOUTHWEST BAPTIST

February 7, 2019-Emporia State hit 18 three-pointers and ended the game on a 12-2 run to take an 89-77 win at Southwest Baptist on Thursday night in Bolivar, Mo.
 
The Hornets got out to a 9-4 lead and led 19-13 with 12:50 left in the first half.  The Bearcats answered with a 7-0 run to go up 20-19 with 10:44 left in the period. Aaron McGee then went on a personal 5-0 run over the next minute to give ESU a 24-20 lead. SBU used an 8-0 run to go back up by four with 7:40 left.  Neither team took more than a three point lead until Sawyer Glick buried a three pointer with 2:37 remaining to give Emporia State a 38-33 lead and the Hornets took a 44-41 lead into the break.
 
Maris Colton hit a three to open the second half for SBU and tie the score at 44.  Hassan Thomas dunked with 19:04 left to put ESU up only to see Godfrey Rolle score inside for the Bearcats and re-tie the score at 46.  The Hornets then went on a 8-0 run capped by back to back three-pointers by Sawyer Glick to give ESU a 54-46 lead and force a Bearcat timeout with 16:15 left. 
 
The Bearcats closed to within 58-53 on an Andy Campbell three-pointer with 12:22 left. The Hornets went on an 11-2 run capped by a pair of three-pointers from Malik Hluchoweckyj as they took their biggest lead of the night at 69-55 with 9:47 remaining.  Karim Mouliom answered for the Bearcats with an 11-0 run of his own to pull within 69-66 on a pair of free throws with 6:13 left.  Julius Jackson broke the run with a three-pointer only to see Rolle score inside to make it 72-68 with 5:30 left.  Duncan Fort scored on a putback 15 seconds later to give the Hornets a two possession lead at 74-68.
 
A 7-2 run by SBU reduced ESU's lead to 77-75 with 2:46 left.  The Hornets then went on a 10-0 run, jump started by three pointers from Thomas and Jackson, to take an 87-75 lead with 37.9 seconds left.  Emporia State would hit six of six free throws in the final 49.8 seconds to secure the 12 point road win.
 
Julius Jackson led Emporia State with 22 points while Hassan Thomas added 20 points.  They were joined in double figures by Sawyer Glick with 14 points and Aaron McGee with a career high ten points.  Kam Rowan filled the stat sheet with seven points, nine rebounds, five steals and four assists.
 
The Hornets are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Central Missouri.  Tip-off from the UCM Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo. is set for 3:30 p.m.