Hornets reverse fortunes in 70-56 win over Missouri Western

February 10, 2024 Emporia State took care of the basketball with just two turnovers and blocked eight shots in a 70-56 win over Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon in White Auditorium.
 
The teams traded scores for the first four and a half minutes. Drew Tennial, who was playing in just his second game since returning from a groin injury, scored the first eight points of the game for Emporia State as they took an 8-6 lead with 15:30 left in the half.
 
Emporia State had three different people score during a 7-0 run to take a 20-12 lead with 9:06 left in the half. Kiani Saxon scored inside with 2:40 left to pull the Griffons within 27-22.  It would be the last bucket of the half for Western and Atavian Butler would score the next six points to give the Hornets a 33-22 lead with 1:09 left and force a Griffon timeout. On the ensuing possession Darius Yohe blocked a shot that led to the third shot clock violation of the first half for MWSU.  Kaden Evans hit two free throws with 11 seconds left to send Emporia State to the locker room with a 35-22 lead.
 
The Hornets increased their run to 12-0 as they scored the first four points of the second half to take control of the contest with a 39-22 lead at the 19:09 mark.  The Griffons would not get closer than ten points the rest of the game. Western got a three-pointer from Julias Dixon with 7:00 left to cut the lead to 59-45.  Emporia State then delivered the knock out punch with an 11-0 run to go up 70-48 on a Tennial three-pointer with 2:08 left. The Griffons scored eight points in the last 1:40 to pull the final score to 70-56.
 
Atavian Butler scored a game high 23 points on nine of 13 shooting to lead three Hornets in double figures. Drew Tennial had an ESU career high 15 points and Alijah Comithier added 12 points.  Darius Yohe blocked six shot and pulled eight rebounds.
 
The Hornets will not play again until Saturday, February 17 when they travel to Newman.  Tip-off from Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita is set for 3:30 p.m.
 
NOTES
Emporia State played without Owen Long who sat out with an ankle injury suffered in Wednesday's game against Northwest Missouri.
Emporia State had just two turnovers in the game, the fewest turnovers in a game in the 21^st century by the Hornets.
The Hornets have forced seven shot clock violations in the last three halves of basketball.