EMPORIA STATE MEN SHOOT THEIR WAY PAST LINCOLN 90-71

February 12, 2022-Emporia State shot 67% from the field in the first half and then built on the lead in the second half on the way to a 90-71 victory over Lincoln on Saturday afternoon in White Auditorium.
 
The Blue Tigers scored the first three points of the game and led 12-11 with 15:20 left in the first half. Tray Buchanan jump started an 8-0 run with a pair of free throws at the 15:00 mark and two and a half minutes later Gage McGuire ended it with a layup to give the Hornets a 19-12 lead.  Lincoln would fight back and tie the game at 23-23 on John Gaines three-pointer with 8:02 left in the half.  Emporia State answered with a 16-4 run to go up 39-27 on a Kaden Evans three-pointer coming out of the final media time out with 4:25 left.
 
A 6-0 run brought the Blue Tigers back to within six when they took advantage of three straight Hornet turnovers.  Chuck Wilson scored with 2:04 left to make it 39-33 but the Hornets would score the final nine points of the half as Jumah'Ri Turner's three-pointer gave Emporia State a 48-33 lead headed into the locker rooms.
 
Emporia State scored the first six points of the second half with Mayuom Buom ending what would become a 15-0 run with a dunk at the 18:41 mark to give the Hornets a 54-33 lead.  The closest Lincoln would get the rest of the night was within 14 points at 77-63 with 6:24 left on a Ni'Seann Rigmaiden jumper.  On the ensuing possession Buchanan was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three free throws to start a 10-0 run for the Hornets.  When it was finished they had matched their biggest lead of the night at 24 points, 87-63, with 3:50 left before settling for the 90-71 victory.
 
Tray Buchanan and Jumah'Ri Turner each scored 24 points while Mayuom Buom added 15 points on four of four shooting from the field and seven of seven from the free throw line. Brenden Van Dyke scored 13 points with a game high eight rebounds.
 
Emporia State will be back in action on Thursday, February 17 when they travel to Maryville, Mo. for the rematch with #2 Northwest Missouri.  Tip-off in Bearcat Arena is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
NOTES
Emporia State has won 18 games for the first time since 2013-14.
With his 24 points Tray Buchanan moved past Robbie Ballard (630 points in 27 games in 2002-03) for sixth on the Emporia State single season scoring list with 652 points. Next on the list is Brian Robinson with 666 points in 31 games in his sophomore year of 1983-84.
With his 12 free throws Tray Buchanan moved into a tie with John Hughes (197 FTM in 1984-85) for second on the Emporia State single season list for made free throws.  The school record is 209 set by Marvin Chatman in 1986-87.