Emporia State men’s basketball took a loss against Northwest Missouri 65-54 at White Auditorium on Dec. 5.
The Hornets began the game with a strong 9-3 lead, but the Bearcats did not let ESU’s lead last long. Northwest responded with a 14-2 run to make the score 17-11 with 10:25 left in the first half. To cap a 12-4 run for the Hornets, Karyiek Dixon, a junior forward, scored on a fast break layup with 3:23 left in the half. This run let ESU close the gap 28-27. However, the Bearcats would be the only team scoring the rest of the half and taking a 31-27 lead from a three-pointer going into the break.
At the start of the second half, sophomore guard Brayson Laube got a steal and scored for the Hornets. He then added two free throws with 19:13 left to get ESU within 33-31. The Bearcats answered with a 10-0 run to increase their lead 43-31 with 16:31 remaining.
Breaking the Bearcats run, Dixon shot two free throws with 16:22 left. Laube added two more free throws at 15:29 left in the half and another free throw at 14:37 to make the score 43-36. The Hornets would then go 9:23 without scoring, but would only allow Northwest to extend the lead to 16 before Laube hit a three pointer with 10:23 left, bringing the score to 52-39.
Sophomore guard Arhman Lewis went on a personal 8-0 run to get the Hornets within 60-54 with 3:21 left in the game. Despite ESU having had three chances to cut the lead over the next two minutes, the Bearcats would close the game going five from six from the free throw line in the final minute to end the game 65-54.
Emporia State Men’s Basketball won their game against Missouri Western with a buzzer beater 74-72 on Dec. 7. They will be back in action against Sterling College on Dec. 17 at White Auditorium. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.