December 2, 2023 – The Emporia State men led by as much as 15 points in the first half before scoring five straight points in the final minute to clinch a 71-69 win over Washburn on Saturday afternoon from White Auditorium.
Throughout the first media timeout, Emporia State and Washburn traded baskets as the score was tied 6-6 at the 14:26 mark in the first half. Following the timeout, Emporia State put together an 11-4 scoring run behind seven points from
Atavian Butler as the Hornets led the Ichabods 17-10.
Washburn closed the gap with a 7-2 run of their own to trim the Emporia State lead to 19-17 with 9:20 remaining in the first half.
Following the Ichabod scoring run, Emporia State put together a 16-4 scoring run as the Hornets built a 36-21 lead, their largest of the game with four minutes remaining in the first half.
Washburn closed the half on an 11-2 scoring run which closed the gap to 38-32 entering the halftime break.
In the first half, Washburn shot 48% from the field to just 38% from the Hornets.
After halftime, the Ichabods inched closer and eventually took a 44-43 lead over the Hornets at the first media timeout of second half with 14:50 remaining in the game.
The largest lead for Washburn came with 12:18 remaining on a layup to give the Ichabods a 50-45 lead. Emporia State closed the gap on Washburn over the next few minutes before finally reclaiming the lead with 7:18 remaining in the game on a layup from
Alijah Comithier to put the Hornets ahead 56-55.
Following Comithier's layup, the lead changed hands six times over the next six minutes with Washburn eventually holding a 67-66 lead entering the final minute of play.
Emporia State missed a corner three before Washburn would add two more points to take a 69-66 lead with 55 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Emporia State retook the lead as
Owen Long knocked down a step-back three plus the foul, giving the Hornets a 70-69 lead.
On Washburn's next possession, the Ichabods missed a pair of shots in the paint before
Drew Tennial corralled the defensive rebound, forcing Washburn to foul and send Tennial to the free throw line with nine seconds remaining.
Tennial split the two free throws to increase the Emporia State lead to 71-69.
Washburn missed their last attempt in the final seconds as the Hornets held on for the Turnpike Tussle win to open conference play.
Owen Long led all scorers with 22 points.
Alijah Comithier had 17 points on 4-7 shooting from the field and 9-10 from the free throw line.
Atavian Butler had 14 points.
Emporia State advances to 7-1 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. The Hornets will return to action on Wednesday, December 6 as they host Rogers State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from White Auditorium.
