Second half defensive effort leads Emporia State to 69-60 win over Northeastern State

January 25, 2023-Emporia State turned up the defensive pressure in the second half on the way to a 69-60 win over Northeastern State on Wednesday night in White Auditorium.
 
The Hornets score first on an Alijah Comithier layup but the RiverHawks scored the next five points.  Owen Long hit back to back step back jumpers near the lane to pull ESU within 7-6 with 17:32 left in the half before Northeastern State went on a 10-3 run and took an eight point lead at the 14:34 mark. The Hornets responded with an 8-0 run of their own to tie the game at 17 with 11:49 left in the half. 
 
The RiverHawks would take the lead back to seven at 35-28 with 2:00 left in the half on an old fashioned three-point play by Anthony Allen. Long and Kaden Evans hit back to back threes in the final 1:06 to get the Hornets within 35-34 at the break. 
 
Both teams were hot in the first half as Northeastern State went 14 of 28 from the field - with seven of their misses due to blocked shots – while Emporia State went 14 of 26 with a six of 11 effort from beyond the three point arc.
 
The teams traded scores to open the second half and the RiverHawks went up 43-39 with 17:08 left on a three-pointer from Dillon Bailey.  Long answered with a turn around jumper in the lane to get the Hornets within two before both teams went on a 3:10 scoreless drought.  Evans broke the drought with a three-pointer to give the Hornets their first lead since the first minute of the contest at 44-43 with 13:39 remaining.
 
It was back and forth again for the next five minutes.  Allen hit a free throw with 8:53 left to give Northeastern State a 51-49 lead.  The Hornets then went on a 7-0 run to take the lead for good. Long started the run with a pair of layups following steals by Peyton Rogers-Schmidt and Evans. It was capped when Comithier took a pass from Evans with 5:32 left and was fouled.  His free throw gave ESU a 56-51 lead with 5:32 left.
 
Bailey hit a three with 2:40 remaining to pull the RiverHawks back within 59-56.  Comithier answered with a step back jumper that just beat the shot clock to put the Hornets up by two possessions.  Then on the defensive end he blocked a shot by Obi Agu and grabbed the rebound.  Long would drive the lane and pull up for a turnaround jumper to give Emporia State a 63-56 lead with1:19 left.  The Hornets then iced the game by going six for six from the free throw line in the final minute for the season sweep of the RiverHawks.
 
Emporia State held Northeastern State to just .346 (nine of 26) shooting in the second half as they outscored the RiverHawks 35-25.
 
Owen Long scored an Emporia State career high 34 points and was joined in double figures by Alijah Comithier with 15 points on six of eight shooting with three blocks.  Kaden Evans was three of five from beyond the three-point line for nine points while Peyton Rogers-Schmidt had a game high seven rebounds and three blocks.
 
Emporia State, who improved to 16-4 overall and 10-4 in the MIAA, is back in action on Sunday, January 29 against Rogers State. Tip-off for the Kansas Day matinee is set for 3:30 p.m.