Dixon Scores Career High in Emporia State's 75-70 Loss to Rogers State

January 30, 2025-Karyiek Dixon had 19 second half points on the way to a career high 28 points but Emporia State could not finish off the comeback in a 75-70 loss to Rogers State on Thursday night in White Auditorium.
 
The teams traded scores over the first four minutes of action before Rogers State scored on back to back possessions to go up 11-7 with 15:48 left in the half.  The Hillcats led 20-12 with 10:22 left when the Hornets went on a 10-0 run.  Dallas Bear started the run with two free throws out of the under ten minute media timeout at 9:57 and Dixon completed an old fashioned three-point play with 6:59 left to cap the run and give ESU a 22-20 lead. A 12-0 run gave Rogers State a 36-26 lead with 3:01 left in the half. The margin would stay at ten points at the break as the Hillcats hit seven first half three-pointers to lead 42-32 at the half.
 
Dixon, Brayson Laube and Malik Edwards Jr. combined on a 7-0 run to start the second half for Emporia State with a three-pointer from Edwards making it 42-39 with 16:55 left in the game. Rogers State would go back up by 11 on a pair for free throws from Benard Omooria with 10:42 left.  The Hornets used an 8-1 run to cut the deficit to four at 58-54 with 8:06 left on break away lay up by Dixon off an assist from Arhman Lewis.  The teams would trade scores again until Dixon scored on a lob from Lewis with 2:41 remaining and then got a steal before scoring on a jumper just outside the paint to get ESU within 67-66 with 1:49 left.
 
The Hillcats got a bucket from Jabryn Anderson with 1:17 left before Edwards hit two free throws with 1:03 remaining to make it 69-68. An Andrew Mason dunk gave Rogers State a 71-68 lead with 48 seconds left. Dixon scored inside with 26.2 seconds left to get the Hornets within 71-70.  Omooria hit two free throws with 14.0 left to put the Hillcats up 73-70.  Emporia State got Devin Conley a three point attempt with just under ten seconds left but Omooria corralled the rebound and hit two free throws with 5.5 seconds left for the final score.
 
Karyiek Dixon had a career high 28 points on 13 of 16 shooting with eight rebounds to lead three Hornets in double figures.  Malik Edwards Jr. scored 17 and Devin Conley added 13 points for Emporia State.
 
The Hornets will be back in action on Sunday, February 2 to wrap up their four game homestand on Cancer Awareness Day.  Tip-off against Central Oklahoma is set for 3:30 p.m.

NOTES
Emporia State outrebounded Rogers State 38-34 despite playing without Parker Day, the fifth leading rebounder in the MIAA, who missed his second game following the birth of his daughter.