January 17, 2024-Emporia State led from start to finish in a 70-61 win over Pittsburg State on Wednesday night in White Auditorium.
Kaden Evans hit a three pointer 27 seconds into the game to get things going for the Hornets. They would score the first seven points of the contest and led 12-4 at the first media timeout.
Darius Yohe gave Emporia State a 20-10 lead with 9:01 left on an alley oop dunk from
Owen Long for their largest lead of the half. The Gorillas would close within 26-22 with 2:16 left in the half but
Alijah Comithier hit a three pointer to push the lead back to seven with 1:56 remaining. After a layup by Max Alexander
Atavian Butler hit another three with 43 seconds left to send the Hornets to the locker rooms up 32-24.
The Gorillas scored the first six points of the second half to get within 32-30 and force the Hornets to call timeout with 17:16 left. The two teams traded scores for the next three minutes. Emporia State then went on a 12-4 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 52-40 with 11:12 remaining. Pitt State would crawl back into the game over the next seven minutes and R.J. Forney scored with 4:45 left to get the Gorillas within 61-59. Oraegbu pushed the lead back to four on a floater in the lane before Deshaun English scored on a put back with 4:05 left to make it 63-61. That would be the last score of the night for the Gorillas. Butler scored inside with 3:49 left to make it a two possession game before the two teams combined for a three minute scoring drought.
Kaden Evans hit a deep three pointer with 50 seconds left to give ESU a 68-61 lead. Oraegbu hit two free throws with 22 seconds left for the final score.
Solomon Oraegbu scored a game high 21 points to lead four Hornets in double figures. He was joined by
Owen Long and
Alijah Comithier with 13 points and
Atavian Butler with 11 points.
The Hornets are back in action on Sunday, January 21 when they play host to Missouri Southern. Tip-off in White Auditorium is set for 3:30 p.m.
