Eight is Enough as Emporia State posts 75-64 win at Newman

February 17, 2024-Playing with just eight healthy bodies Emporia State fell behind early before taking control in the second half of a 75-64 win at Newman on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Hornets were held scoreless over the first 4:22 of the game as the Jets took a 7-0 lead.  Alijah Comithier got ESU on the board with 15:38 left to make it 7-2 and the teams traded scores over the next five minutes.  The Jets then scored six straight to take their biggest lead of the half at 21-10 with 8:41 left. Trailing 37-26 Cael McGee scored six straight points in a span of 71 seconds to get the Hornets within 37-32 with 1:08 left in the half. The teams then traded scores to give the Jets a 39-34 lead at the break.
 
Stevie Strong opened the second half with a three-pointer to give the Jets a 42-34 lead. Owen Long scored the next five points to get the Hornets back within three at the 18:10 mark. Kaden Evans hit back to back threes for the Hornets around a Newman bucket to pull ESU into a 49-49 tie with 14:03 left. Stevie Strong hit a three with 12:08 left to give the Jets a 54-52 lead before the Hornets used a 7-0 run to take the lead for good.  Drew Tennial started the run with a put back then assisted on a dunk by Darius Yohe before Evans buried this third three-pointer of the half to give Emporia State a 59-54 lead with 9:04 remaining. Newman got within four points at 66-62 with 3:23 left before Emporia State used a 9-2 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 75-62 with 30 seconds left. 
 
The Hornets held the Jets to just 33.3% shooting in the second half after allowing Newman to connect at a 65.4% clip in the first 20 minutes.  Emporia State also outrebounded Newman 28-10 in the second half.
 
Owen Long, who missed the last game with an ankle injury, scored a game high 23 points with five assists to lead four Hornets in double figures.  Alijah Comither scored 18 points with six assists and three assists while Kaden Evans scored 11 and Cael McGee added ten points. Darius Yohe finished with a game high 11 rebounds.
 
Emporia State will be back in action on Wednesday, February 21 when the play host to Central Missouri on Hoops for Hope Night.  Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
NOTES:
The Hornets only suited up eight players with Atavian Butler and Ethan Hildebrand both out with illness and Solomon Oraegbu still out with a shoulder injury.