EMPORIA STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS TIGHT GAME WITH PITT STATE 77-74

February 6, 2020-In a game that saw eight ties and 24 lead changes, Emporia State could not get their final shot to go down in a 77-74 loss to Pittsburg State on Thursday night in White Auditorium.
 
Neither team took more than a four point lead in the first half.  The Gorillas had a three-point lead with 14:56 left when the Hornets went on a 7-0 run to take a 19-15 lead with 12:57 left.  Pitt State led 30-26 with 7:12 left before Emporia State went on an 11-3 run to go up 37-33 with 3:16 remaining. The Gorillas retook the lead at 41-40 with 30 seconds left but Gage McGuire scored on a put back at the buzzer to give Emporia State a 42-41 lead at the break.
 
It stayed a one possession game through the first 11 minutes of the second half.  Emporia State used a 9-2 run to take a 61-57 lead with 8:48 left.  The Hornets held the lead until Antonio Givens hit two free throws with 3:33 left to put the Gorillas up 66-65.  Two Zac Owens free throws with 2:18 left gave the Hornets a 71-69 lead.  Givens answered with two more free throws to tie the game 18 seconds later.  After an Emporia State turnover Marcel Cherry hit a three-pointer to put the Gorillas up 74-71 with 1:33 remaining. The Hornets missed a jumper on the ensuing possession and Jah-Kobe Womack buried a corner three to give Pitt State their biggest lead of the night at 77-71 with 56.3 seconds left.  Justin Williams answered with a pull up three-pointer at the :44.8 mark to get the Hornets back within three points.  Womack missed a jumper in the paint and Duncan Fort grabbed the rebound with 13.4 seconds left.  After a timeout Fort missed a three-pointer and although Owens corralled the rebound he could not get another shot off in time as the Gorillas won 77-74.
 
Jumah'Ri Turner led the Hornets with 16 points.  Mason Thiessen and Justin Williams each scored 13 and Devin Rottweiler scored 12 points.  Emporia State only had three more turnovers than the Gorillas but Pitt State outscored the Hornets 20-6 off of turnovers.
 
Emporia State will be back in action on Saturday against #19 Missouri Southern on Alumni Weekend.  Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m.