No Freebies as Emporia State falls 94-86 to #12 Central Oklahoma

January 6, 2024-A heavy weight battle in the MIAA came down to converting at the free throw as #12 Central Oklahoma hit 23 of 24 from the line and Emporia State only converted 13 of 21 in a 94-86 win by the Bronchos.
 
There were nine ties and four lead changes in the first half. The Hornets used an 8-2 run to go up 14-8 on a Kaden Evans three-pointer with 14:36 left in the half. The Bronchos would take their biggest lead of the half with 9:57 left when Mike Quick completed an old fashioned three-point play to cap a 12-1 run for a 24-19 lead.   Emporia State retook the lead at 31-29 on a Drew Tennial put back with 5:58 left in the half to finish a 12-5 run by ESU. It would stay no more than a one possession game the rest of the half.
 
Emporia State's Owen Long and UCO's Danquez Dawsey traded threes with Dawsey putting the Bronchos up 42-39 with 50 seconds left.  The Hornets worked the clock to get a two for one possession at the end of the half with Solomon Oraegbu driving for a layup with 36 seconds left to get ESU within a point.  After a pair of Majok Majouk free throws with 17 seconds left, Long hit a layup at the buzzer to pull the Hornets within 44-43 at the break.
 
Both teams hit 17 field goals in the first half with the Hornets making one more three-pointer, while UCO was a perfect six of six from the line and ESU went four of six for the difference in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The Bronchos came out hot to start the second half, scoring eight of the first nine points and force the Hornets to call timeout just 88 seconds into the period.  They extended the run to 12-1 to take a 55-44 lead with 17:27 left in the game.  UCO took the biggest lead of the game at 67-54 with 11:18 left. The Hornets responded with a 13-2 run to get within 69-67 with 8:06 left.  On the next possession ESU forced a shot clock violation by UCO and had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead but could not convert on the offensive end. 
 
Jaden Wells and Majouk each scored to put the Bronchos back up by six at 73-67 with 6:31 left. Oraegbu quickly went coast to coast for a layup and was fouled but could not complete the hoop and harm as ESU trailed 73-69.  With 5:18 left Darius Yohe blocked a shot and Alijah Comithier grabbed the rebound and went the distance to bring the Hornets within two at 73-71.    
 
The teams traded scores for the next five possessions until a Hornet turnover with 3:29 left gave the ball back to UCO.  Dawsey hit a three-pointer with 3:02 left to give the Bronchos an 83-75 lead. Yohe scored on an offensive rebound with 1:45 left to get the Hornets back within five at 84-79. Wells then beat the shot clock with a layup at the 1:18 mark to put UCO up 86-79.  That would be the last field goal for the Bronchos as they hit eight of eight free throws in the final 50 seconds to close out the 94-86 win.
 
Four Hornets were in double figures led by Solomon Oraegbu with 21 points.  Owen Long and Alijah Comithier each scored 18 points while Darius Yohe had a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds to go with four blocked shots.

Emporia State will go on the road for the next two games starting at Lincoln on Thursday, January 11.  Tip-off from Jason Gym in Jefferson City, Mo. is set for 7:30 p.m.

NOTES:
The loss snapped Emporia State's 11 game home court winning streak.