TALE OF TWO HALVES AS EMPORIA STATE MEN FALL TO ROGERS STATE 78-68

February 6, 2021-It was the tale of two halves on Saturday afternoon as Emporia State won the first half and Rogers State controlled the second in a 78-68 win by the Hillcats.
 
Both teams had trouble scoring early as the Hornets led just 6-2 at the first media timeout with 14:40 left on three Jumah'Ri Turner buckets.  The pace did not pick up much by the second media with 9:44 remaining as Emporia State led 13-10 on a Mayuom Buom layup.  That layup would spark an 8-2 run that gave the Hornets a 19-12 lead with 7:23 left in the half. Buom would score six of eight points in the game during that run.  Austin Downing gave Emporia State their biggest lead of the day on a three-pointer with 6:23 left to make it 22-14. 
 
Kong Kong hit a three-pointer with 2:53 left to make it 30-22 but it would be the last points of the half for the Hornets.  They were able to hold the Hillcats to just six points during that time as Emporia State took a 30-28 lead into the locker room.
 
Emporia State led 34-31 after Turner made a pair of free throws as a result of a technical foul on Rogers State's Darraja Parnell. After the technical the Hillcats Devin Pullum went on a personal 9-0 run that gave Rogers State a 40-34 lead with 16:26 left.  The Hillcats led 49-42 with 13:25 left when Turner and Duncan Fort combined to go on a 7-1 run.  Turner capped the run with a pair of free throws with 11:04 left that pulled Emporia State within 50-49.  
 
RSU answered with an 8-0 run, getting back to back three-pointers from Jeff Sternberger and Brewster Peacock to take a 58-49 lead with 9:45 remaining.  They would gradually pull away with the lead reaching 17 points with 3:31 left. Emporia State would get the lead down to 11 with 1:36 left but only three total points were scored the rest of the way as Rogers State was able to run out the clock for the 78-68 final.
 
Jumah'Ri Turner scored a game high 23 points but was the only Hornet in double figures. Austin Downing and Duncan Fort each scored nine points.
 
The next action for Emporia State is not scheduled until Saturday, February 13 when they travel to Lincoln.  Tip-off from Jason Gymnasium in Jefferson City, Mo. is set for 3:00 p.m.
 
NOTES:
Emporia State led the MIAA in opponent's field goal percentage entering the game, but Rogers State was able to hit 24 of 48 shots including an 11 of 25 effort from beyond the three-point line. 
In 16 games this season the Hillcats have only shot above 40% from three with at least ten makes four times, two of them against Emporia State.