EMPORIA STATE MEN WIN HOME OPENER 78-71 OVER WILLIAM JEWELL

November 20, 2021-Emporia State shot 55% from the field in the second half on the way to a 78-71 win over William Jewell on Saturday in White Auditorium.
 
The Hornets jumped out to an 8-2 lead only to see the Cardinals respond with a 13-0 run to take a 15-8 lead with 13:#5 left in the opening half.  Emporia State came back with a 10-2 run of their own to retake the lead on a Jumah'Ri Turner jumper in the lane with 10:51 left.  There would be six lead changes and three ties over the final 11 minutes of the half as William Jewell took a 39-35 lead into the break.
 
The Cardinals led by six with just under 11 minutes left when Mason Thiessen hit a three-pointer to ignite a 9-0 run by the Hornets. Turner finished the run with an old fashioned three-point play to give Emporia State a 59-56 lead with 8:50 remaining.  Jewel would cut the lead to one on three more occasions but Emporia State had an answer each time.
 
A Kobe McKinley free throw out of the final media timeout with 3:39 left pulled WJC within 68-67 but Turner scored six points for the Hornets as they took a 74-69 lead with 1:43 remaining.  Tray Buchanan hit two free throws with 35 seconds left to make it a three possession game before the Hornets settled for the 78-71 final.
 
Jumah'Ri Turner led Emporia State with 27 points and was joined in double figures by Tray Buchanan with 19 points.  Peyton Rogers-Schmidt came off the bench to grab a team high six rebounds and dish four assist to tie Buchanan for the team lead.
 
Emporia State will be back in action on Wednesday, November 24 when they play host to Tabor.  Tip-off on Thanksgiving Eve is now set for 3:30 p.m. in White Auditorium.
 
NOTES:
The win was Coach Craig Doty's 200^th career win at all levels.  He is now 200-97 in his tenth year as a head coach in the NJCAA, NAIA and NCAA.