HORNETS FALL 80-78 AT WASHBURN IN WILD TURNPIKE TUSSLE

January 4, 2020-Emporia State built a 15 point lead but saw Washburn shoot 65.4% from the field in the second half as the Ichabods won 80-78 on Saturday night in Topeka.
 
The teams battled to a 16-16 tie over the first eight and a half minutes of action before the Hornets went on a 12-2 run.  A Keyon Thomas field goal with 7:55 left gave Emporia State a 28-18 lead.  Washburn would not get closer than five the rest of the half.  Drew Maschoff hit a jumper in the paint with 3:05 left would be their last field goal of the half. They would hit four of four free throws to match the Hornets field goal and two free throws over that stretch as Emporia State took a 39-31 lead into the break.
 
The Hornets shot 57.1% in the first half, going 13 of 18 (72.2%) from inside the three point line while holding the Ichabods to 34.5% shooting from the field in the first 20 minutes.  Washburn outscored Emporia State 10-4 from the free throw line in the first half as well.
 
Jalen Lewis hit a fast break three-pointer with 16:47 left to pull the Ichabods within four at 46-42.  The Hornets then went on a 13-2 run over the next four minutes.  Dallas Bailey hit a three-pointer with 12:49 to give Emporia State their biggest lead at 59-44. 
 
The Hornets still led by ten with 7:11 left when Gage McGuire scored on a put back to give Emporia State a 65-55 lead.  After Jonny Clausing scored inside with 5:43 left to cut the lead to six, Emporia State got two offensive rebounds to prolong a possession before Justin Williams hit a three-pointer to put the Hornets up 68-59 with 5:13 left. 
 
The Ichabods hit their next five shots to go on a 12-0 run and took a 71-68 lead with 2:39 left.  The Hornets missed two free throws and three three-pointers during that time before Williams hit one of two free throws to break the run with 1:44 left. 
 
Tyler Geiman hit a three-pointer with 1:19 left to give Washburn a 74-69 lead and then made it a six point deficit by hitting one of two free throws with 46.3 seconds left. Jumah'Ri Turner went two of two at the line with 31.0 seconds left to cut the deficit to four. Lewis was fouled with 28.7 seconds left and missed the front end of a one and one.  Bailey pulled the rebound for Emporia State and Turner scored inside with 21.6 left to cut the lead to 75-73.  Lewis then hit two free throws with 19.0 left to push it back to a four point game.  Duncan Fort scored on an offensive put back with 12.4 seconds remaining to pull the Hornets within 77-75.  Lewis hit two more from the charity stripe with 11.6 left.  The Hornets got the ball in quickly and Zac Owens hit a three-pointer with 6.0 left to get the Hornets within one at 79-78.  Geiman was fouled on the inbound play.  He hit the first and missed the second giving the Hornets a chance.  Owens pulled the rebound and launched a three-pointer from half court that came up well short.

Jumah'Ri Turner led the Hornets with 22 points and was joined in double figures by Justin Williams with 17 and Dallas Bailey scored a career high ten points. Brendan Van Dyke had nine points and five rebounds but was limited to 20 minutes due to foul trouble.
 
For the game Emporia State was 31 of 32 from the field, but went just eight of 15 from the free throw line.  Washburn was 27 of 55 from the field and converted 20 of 29 from the charity stripe.
 
The Hornets will be back in action on Thursday, January 9 when they welcome defending national champion Northwest Missouri to White Auditorium.  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.