#20 Emporia State men's basketball falls 78-73 to #8 UNC-Pembroke

November 4, 2023-Playing without two potential starters, #20 Emporia State battled with #8 UNC-Pembroke before falling 78-73 on Saturday night to wrap up the first day of action at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Fla.

There were four ties and five lead changes over the first eight minutes. The Hornets would use an 8-0 lead to turn a three point deficit into a five point lead at 20-15 on an Owen Long jumper with 12:11 left in the half. The Braves answered with a 6-0 run of their own to go up 21-20 with 8:43 left.  Long buried a three-pointer to ignite an 11-2 run and ended it with a steal and pull up jumper with 5:55 left to give the Hornets a 31-23 lead.  Emporia State took their biggest lead of the game at 40-30 with 1:23 left in the half on an Atavian Butler dunk.  UNC-Pembroke then scored the final eight points of the half to make it a two point game at the break.
 
Both teams shot 16 of 31 from the field in the first half with the Hornets hitting four three pointers compared to just one for the Braves.
 
Emporia State had a six point lead at 48-42 on a three-pointer from Long with 16:22 left but a 16-2 run gave the Braves a 58-50 lead with 10:58 remaining.  The Hornets would cut the lead to three and have the ball on two occasions over the next five minutes but could not the game tied.  UNC-Pemroke used a 9-3 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 76-66 with 49 seconds left.
 
Solomon Oraegbu led three Hornets in double figures with 21 points while Alijah Comithier had a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds. Owen Long was the other Hornet in double figures with 18 points and a team high three assists.
 
The Hornets are back in action on Sunday night when they wrap up the Hall of Fame Classic against Virginia Union. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. (CT) in Jenkins Fieldhouse in Lakeland, Fla.