Ten-point win for #24 Emporia State mens basketball over UIndy

November 26, 2023-In an interregional match-up between teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, #24 Emporia State outscored Indianapolis by ten points in the second half on the way to an 82-72 win on a snowy Sunday afternoon in White Auditorium.
 
The Greyhounds, who were ranked #5 in the NABC preseason poll and are still receiving votes this week, jumped out to an 8-2 lead to start the game. Indy led 15-8 at the first media timeout when Emporia State went on a 10-2 run to take their first lead with 8:39 left in the half. Alijah Comithier scored six straight points for the Hornets to give them a 24-19 lead with 7:18 remaining. He then hit a three-pointer at the 3:41 mark to give Emporia State their biggest lead of the half at 31-25.   Indy scored the final five points of the half to make it 38-38 at the break.
 
Indianapolis shot a blistering 65.2% from the field in the opening 20 minutes but the Hornets countered by forcing ten turnovers on nine steals for a 12-4 advantage on points off turnovers.
 
Indianapolis scored the first five points of the second half and had a 45-41 lead with 17:47 left in the game.  Emporia State answered with a 5-0 run by Owen Long to take a 46-45 lead just one minute later.  That would be the first of 12 lead changes and seven ties over the next 12 minutes.  Drew Tennial hit two free throws with 5:07 left to spark a 14-3 run to ice the game and give the Hornets a double digit lead at 79-69 with 43 seconds left.  
 
After allowing 65.2% shooting in the first half, Emporia State held Indy to just 36.7% from the field in the second half.
 
Atavian Butler led all scorers with 22 points on eight of 11 shooting from the field.  He was joined in double figures by Alijah Comithier with 19 points, Soloman Oraegbu with 16, and Owen Long with 15 points.  Kaden Evans tied his career high with six steals.
 
Emporia State will be back in action on Saturday, December 2 against Washburn in the MIAA opener for both teams.