January 2, 2025 – The Emporia State men came up just short against Central Missouri, falling 72-69 in a game that was back and forth throughout the first half and featured multiple scoring runs in the second half from both teams.
The game got started with a three from the Mules and a jumper from
Brayson Laube on the opening possessions. The opening minute set the tone for the first half that featured six lead changes. Both Central Missouri and Emporia State held three-point leads in the opening ten minutes, before the largest first half lead came from the Hornets with just under eight minutes remaining until halftime.
A pair of
Parker Day free throws and two points in the paint from
Karyiek Dixon gave Emporia State a 21-16 lead with 7:57 on the clock. The Mules responded with a 12-3 scoring run, building a 28-24 lead with, their largest of the first half. Emporia State would knot the score at 28-28 with 2:08 after four more points from Dixon. Central Missouri scored the final three points of the half, as the Hornets entered the break trailing 31-28.
In the first half, both teams shot an identical 10-28 from the floor while Emporia State was outrebounded 23-17, including 7-3 on the offensive glass.
Following the break, the score remained within five points through the first three minutes, as Central Missouri led 37-35 after a Dixon layup at the 17:21 mark. After the Dixon basket, the Mules put together a 10-0 scoring run into the media timeout with 14:32 left as the Hornets trailed 47-35.
Over the next five minutes, Emporia State held Central Missouri scoreless and put together a 9-0 run in return, capped off by a three from
Chris Harris at the 9:29 mark to close the lead to 47-46. Emporia State was unable to get over the hump and retake the lead, as the Mules rattled off a 16-3 run, building a 63-49 lead, their largest of the game, with just 3:28 remaining.
Emporia State fought back over the final three-plus minutes, as the Hornets cut the Central Missouri lead to 66-62 with 51 seconds remaining after a three from
Arhman Lewis. After two free throws pushed the Mules' lead back to six, Lewis rattled off four straight points as the Hornets closed the deficit to 68-66 with 15 seconds left. UCM made their next two free throws before Lewis came down to sink his third three in the final two minutes to cut the lead to one. After two more free throws from Central Missouri with under five seconds left, the final heave for the Hornets fell short as Emporia State dropped their matchup with the Mules 72-69.
Arhman Lewis finished with a game-high 24 points on 8-14 shooting, including 14 points in the final two minutes.
Brayson Laube and
Karyiek Dixon joined Lewis in double figures with 13 and 12 points respectively.
Emporia State will return to action on Saturday, January 4 as they host Washburn in the Turnpike Tussle which will air on 38 The Spot in the Kansas City Area as the MIAA Game of the Week. The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. with tipoff between the Hornets and Ichabods set for 1:40 p.m. from White Auditorium.
