LATE RUN COSTS EMPORIA STATE IN LOSS TO CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

January 21, 2021-Emporia State led for over 27 of the 40 minutes on Thursday night but a late run by Central Oklahoma gave the Bronchos a 71-59 victory in White Auditorium.
 
The Hornets led 10-6 at the first media timeout when the Bronchos went on a 7-0 run to take a 13-10lead with 12:54 left.  Emporia State answered with a 6-0 run of their own to 16-13 by the second media timeout.  
 
A Jumah'Ri Turner three-pointer capped an 11-4 run for the Hornets as they took a 27-17 lead with 5:44 left in the half. Turner gave Emporia State their biggest lead of the night at 29-18 on a turnaround jumper in the lane with 4:06 left.  The Bronchos came out of the final media timeout of the half and went on a 7-0 run to pull within 29-25 with 2:14 left.  Ben Smith stopped the run with a three pointer as the Hornets ended the half on an 8-3 run of their own to lead 37-28 at the break.
 
Emporia State shot 42.3% (11 of 26) from the field in the first half while limiting UCO to 33.3% (10 of 30) while both teams hit four three-pointers. 
 
The Bronchos started the second half on a 9-2 run and pulled to within two points on Jaden Wells steal and layup with 17:36 left.  The Hornets pushed the lead back to five a 42-37 on a floater by Austin Downing in the lane with 15:31 left. UCO tied the game at 42 on a three-pointer from Jayln Turner with 11:48 remaining.  A 6-0 run capped by an old fashioned three-point play by Jumah'Ri Turner gave Emporia State a 48-42 lead with 9:41 remaining.  It would be the last points of the night for Turner and the Hornets would go scoreless for the next 3:57 as the Bronchos went on a 17-0 run to take the lead for good.  They were four of four from beyond the three-point line during the run as they took a 59-48 lead with 6:28 remaining.
 
Downing broke the streak for Emporia State with 5:44 left but Cam Givens would hit another three pointer to but UCO back up by double digits. By the time Givens hit the Bronchos sixth straight from beyond the arc with 4:16 left the run reached 27-4 and UCO led 69-52.  Downing and Gage McGuire scored back to back buckets to get Emporia State within 13 with 2:29 left and forced UCO into a timeout.  D.J. Basey got an alley oop dunk out of the timeout to put the Bronchos back up by 15.  Nick Reid scored the final three points for ESU from the free throw line as they lost 71-59
 
The Hornets shot just 28% (7 of 25) from the field in the second half and missed all nine three-point attempts while the Bronchos shot 44.1% (15 of 34) overall but 50% (8 of 16) from beyond the arc after the break.  Six of their eight three-pointers came in a row during a 5:16 span of the second half.
 
Austin Downing led Emporia State with 15 points and added seven rebounds and four assists. Jumah'Ri Turner added 13 points while Ben Smith chipped in nine points. 
 
The Hornets are back in action on Saturday, January 23 when they play host to #7 Washburn. Tip-off for the Turnpike Tussle is set for 3:30 p.m. in White Auditorium.