#22 Hornets drop 68-64 decision to Missouri Western on Monday afternoon

December 19, 2022-In a game that saw several big runs, Missouri Western was able to hold on and defeat #22 Emporia State 68-64 on Monday afternoon in White Auditorium.
 
Playing on the last day of the semester both teams struggled offensively early with the first points not coming until Owen Long hit a step back jumper with 16:41 left in the half.  That would ignite a 10-0 run for the Hornets capped by a three-pointer from Long out of the under 15 media timeout.  Nachs Wahwassuck would grab a defensive rebound and go coast to coast with 10:22 left to give Emporia State their biggest lead of the afternoon at 17-5 with 11:37 left in the half.
 
Mayuom Buom got a fast break dunk with 6:41 left to put the Hornets up 23-13 when the Griffons went on their first run.  They would outscore Emporia State 10-0 over the next four minutes with Julius Dixon hitting a three-pointer with 2:43 left to cut the lead to 23-21.  Long hit a three pointer with 1:13 left to push the Hornets back up by seven at 28-21. It would be the last field goal of the half for ESU as Western scored the final four points to pull within 28-25 at the break.
 
The scoreless drought would extend into the second half as the Griffons went on an 8-0 run to take a 29-28 lead on a Will Eames put back with 18:55 left in the game.  After a Hornet timeout Alijah Comithier scored to break the scoreless streak but Western scored the next seven points to go up 36-30 with 17:04 left. The run would eventually go to 19-3 as the Griffons took a 40-31 lead with 15:36 remaining. After a timeout Emporia State brought in a second unit and went on a 7-0 run to pull back within two points.  Atavian Butler had the final five points of the run and his layup following a Wahwassuck block and Gage McGuire rebound and assist got ESU within 40-38 with 14:06 left.
 
The Griffons gradually pulled away and took their biggest lead of the afternoon at 60-48 with 6:42 left.  The Hornets answered with a 10-1 run, with Long scoring all ten points.  He started the run with a three-pointer and capped the run with a four point play when he was fouled after nailing a three with 3:33 left. His free throw got the Hornets within 61-58.  After Western scored three to go back up by four, Long hit another three-pointer following a punch out rebound by Peyton Rogers-Schmidt to make it 64-61 with 1:27 left. Sam Baker hit one of two free throws with 32 seconds left to get within two.  Eames hit two free throws with 19 seconds remaining to put the Griffons up 66-62.  Long missed a three from the top of the key and Reed Kemp hit one of two free throws with 12.9 seconds to make it 67-62.  Kaden Evans and Butler each missed three-pointers before Sam Baker was fouled with 3.5 seconds left.  He hit both free throws to get Emporia State within three at 67-64.  The Hornets were able to foul Kemp with 2.7 seconds left and after missing the first, he hit the second to give Western a 68-64 lead.
 
Owen Long led all scorers with 23 points and although all ten Hornets that played scored, Atavian Butler was the only other Hornet in double figures with 11 points. 
 
The Hornets will now take the mandatory NCAA Division II Life in the Balance Break from December 21-27 before returning for their next game at Newman on New Year's Eve.  Tip-off from Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita is set for 3:30 p.m. on December 31.