December 20, 2025-Rockhurst shot 71.4% from the field in the second half as Emporia State fell 92-72 in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rockhurst jumped out to an 8-0 lead to begin the contest but Emporia State responded with an 8-0 run of their own to tie things up with 15:23 left in the opening half. The teams would go back and forth over the next nine minutes with neither team taking more than a three point lead during that span. Jack Scott hit a three-pointer and Drenin Dinkins hit a pair of free throws to give the Hawks a 29-23 lead with 5:11 left. The teams would again go back and forth the rest of the half before Treyvon Taylor hit two free throws with 8.0 seconds left to pull the Hornets within 35-31 at the half.
The second half started much like the first with Rockhurst scoring the first six points to go up 41-31 with 18:42 left in the game. The Hornets got back within six at 45-39 on a Chris Harris free throw with 16:05 remaining. Rockhurst used another 8-0 run to take a 61-46 lead with 11:49 left as the Hawks hit seven of their first eight shots from the field in the second half. Emporia State got the lead down to 63-55 with 9:02 left on a layup by Taylor but Peyton Newbern answered with an old fashioned three-point play to get the deficit back to double digits on the way to the 92-72 final.
 
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Justin Mack led Emporia State with a career high 18 points on eight of nine shooting while the rest of the team made just 19 of 52 shots from the field.  Mack was joined in double figures by Chris Harris with 13 points and Andrew Pengel with 11 points.  Olafur Styrmisson was the leading rebounder for ESU with four as the Hornets were outrebounded 39-25 on the night.
Rockhurst shot 57.9% from the field for the game with a 20 of 28 effort in the second half.
 
UP NEXT
Emporia State will now take the NCA Division II Life in the Balance Break for a week before returning to action in 2026. The first game back will be at Central Missouri on January 1. Tip-off from the Hughes Athletic Center in Warrensburg, Mo. is set for 7:30 p.m.