Hornets Comeback Comes Up Short

November 19, 2025-Emporia State trimmed a 21 point deficit to two points but could not complete the comeback in a 77-72 loss to Willaim Jewell on Wednesday night in White Auditorium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The three point line was the difference in the opening 20 minutes as Emporia State missed all seven of their shots from beyond the arc while the Cardinals went six of 15 from long range in the hirst half.  Emporia State trailed 37-27 with 1:16 left in the half and were able to cut it to six on a Chris Harris shot in the paint with ten seconds left. Justice Sutton hit a transition three as the half ended to send Jewell to the locker room with a 40-31 lead.
Harris got a steal and lay up to open the second half and cut the lead to seven.  Jewell would use an 8-0 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 63-42 with 12 minutes remaining. The Hornets trailed 65-44 when Trey Taylor hit two free throws at the 11:08 mark to spark a 15-0 run.  ESU forced a shot clock violation with 8:57 left and Jack Wigus scored on a layup followed by a three pointer after a Taylor steal to get the Hornets within 65-59. After a WJC free throw Justin Mack hit a layup and Weigus nailed a step back three-pointer to make it 66-64 with 5:00 left to cap a 20-1 ESU run.

Jack Weigus three highlights 20-3 scoring run for @ESUMensBBall to trim the @JewellHoops lead to 66-64 heading into the final media timeout. #StingersUp pic.twitter.com/w0MaUIFscO

— ESU Athletics (@ESUSports) November 20, 2025

Bryce Mitchell hit two free throws to break the run at the 4:40 mark before Sutton hit a jumper with 3:20 left to snap an 8:03 drought without a field goal for the Cardinals.  Dallas Bear nailed a three pointer with 1:14 left to get the Hornets within 75-71 but Emporia State could only get one free throw the rest of the way as Jewell finished off the 77-72 win.

A LOOK AT THE STATS
Devein Conley led Emporia State with 13 points on six of ten shooting while Treyvon Taylor scored 11 and Jack Weigus and Chris Harris each scored ten points. All four double figure scorers are either freshmen or sophomores. Dallas Bear was the leading rebounder with six while Justin Mack had a team high four assists.
The Hornets shot 53.7% from the field and made six of 17 three-pointers while the Cardinals shot 55.8% from the field and connected on 11 of 26 from beyond the arc.
 
UP NEXT
The Hornets travel to Kansas City, Mo. on Saturday for a neutral site game against former MIAA foe Lincoln.  Tip-off from the Mabee Center on the campus of Avila University is set for 12 noon.