#24 Emporia State rolls to 89-64 win over Panhandle State

November 22, 2023-The #24 Hornets overcame a sluggish start in both halves to post an 89-64 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Wednesday night in White Auditorium.
 
The Aggies scored the first four points of the game and led 9-6 before Emporia State went on a 10-0 run to take a 16-9 lead with 14:22 left. The Hornets would not trail again, although OPSU scored seven straight points to retie the game at 16 with 13:05 remaining in the half. Over the next two and a half minutes Solomon Oraegbu scored six points during a 9-0 run to push the lead back to 25-16.  A 14-3 run capped by back to back three-pointers from Owen Long gave the Hornets their biggest lead of the first half at 42-25.  Alon Morgenstern scored at the buzzer for OPSU as Emporia State took a 52-37 lead into the break.
 
The Hornets shot .588 from beyond the three-point line in the opening 20 minutes with Long going five of six from beyond the arc. Emporia State forced nine turnovers and led the Aggies 14-2 in points off turnovers in the first half.
 
Emporia State would score only five points in the first 7:20 of the second half and OPSU took advantage with an 11-0 run to cut the lead to five at 57-52 with 14:11 left.  Alijah Comithier broke the run lay up at the 12:40 mark.  After a 5-0 mini-run by the Hornets, Joe Greaves hit a three-pointer to bring OPSU back within 62-55 with 12:02 left. Comithier then hit back to back threes to ignite a 15-2 run for Emporia State as they took a 77-57 lead with 8:25 remaining on Comithier's third trey of the second half.  The lead would eventually grow to 27 before the Hornets settled for the 89-64 victory,
 
Owen Long scored 26 points with six assists and tied his career high with seven made three-pointers.  Alijah Comithier scored 23 with five rebounds and five assists while hitting five of seven from beyond the arc.  Solomon Oraegbu joined them in double figures with 15 points to along with six rebounds, three assists and three steals.  Drew Tennial just missed a double-double in his first action as a Hornet with nine points and nine rebounds.
 
The #24 Hornets are back in action on Sunday, November 26 when they play host to Indianapolis.  The Greyhounds started the season ranked #5 in the nation and are still receiving votes in the NABC poll.  Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.