Emporia State Falls in Final Game Before Break 87-84 to Rockhurst

December 20, 2024-Playing their final game of 2024 calendar year, Emporia State came up just short in an 87-84 loss to Rockhurst on Friday evening at White Auditorium.
 
There were nine ties and 12 lead changes in a game that neither team took more than a six point lead at any point.  The Hawks got out to an 8-4 lead two minutes into the game and led 24-20 with 9:24 left in the first half.  The Hornets then went on an 11-2 run to go up 31-26 on a Chris Harris three-pointer with 5:18 remaining.  Emporia State would take a 35-32 lead into the half.
 
Neither team would take more than a one possession lead over the first 12 minutes of the second half.  The Hawks used a 5-0 run to turn a 63-62 Hornet lead with 9:12 left into a 67-63 Rockhurst advantage with 7:52 left. Trailing by six with 2:22 left, Emporia State went on an 8-2 run and tied the game at 81 with 1:06 left on an old fashioned three-point play by Harris. 
 
Neither team would score until Daniel Carr hit a three-pointer with 10.6 seconds left to put Rockhurst up 84-81.  Leading by three the Hawks fouled Arhman Lewis with 7.4 seconds left.  The sophomore converted both free throws to make it 84-83. The Hornets fouled on the inbounds and Jaylen Wesley hit both free throws to give the Hawks an 86-83 lead with 6.1 seconds left. Emporia State got the ball to midcourt and called timeout with 5.6 seconds left.  They inbounded the ball to Harris who was fouled with 3.1 seconds remaining.  The red-shirt freshman hit the first and intentionally missed the second that resulted in a jump ball with 1.1 seconds left.  The Hornets fouled on the inbound with 0.4 seconds left and Brian Hawthorne hit the first free throw to make it 87-84. He missed the second but time ran out before they could get off a full court heave.
 
Malik Edwards led Emporia State with 19 points. He was joined in double figures by Arhman Lewis with 15 while Parker Day and Chris Harris each scored 12 points.  Day added 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.

Emporia State shot 52.4% from the field but were just six of 23 (26.1%) from the three-point line and 12 of 21 (57.1%) from the free throw line. Rockhurst made 55.4% from the field including a 10 of 21 (47.6%) from beyond the arc and were 15 of 24 (62.5%) from the charity stripe.
 
The next action for Emporia State will be a return to MIAA play on January 2 when they play host to Central Missouri.  Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
NOTES:
Emporia State played without the MIAA's leading rebounder Donald Coats III who injured his knee in pregame warmups.