Emporia State basketball faced off against the Wichita State Shockers Saturday in their first round of pre-season exhibition, falling to WSU 53-99.

Within the first three minutes, the Shockers carried a 12-2 lead to which ESU caught up to during an 8-0 run that pulled the score up 10-12. However, WSU would go on to widen their lead 28-13. With the score 37-19, ESU missed their only free throw of the half, carried out with 4:09 left by Donald Coats III. 

WSU led 52-25 at the half. 

Returning for the second half, ESU would fall short to the Shockers who scored first with a three pointer with 19:32 remaining. Parker Day would score the first points of the half for the Hornets with a three-pointer that brought the score 28-57. A tip in by Cael McGee brought the Hornets up to 30 points, but still falling behind the Shockers with 66. 

ESU suffered from six missed free throws in the second half, but were able to bring their score up to 53 by the end of the game through a mix of three pointers, layups, two dunks and a few successful free throws. The Hornets would still fall short, however, and the Shockers took the game 99-53. 

Malik Edwards Jr. led ESU with 15 points followed by Chris Harris with eight. Harris also led the team in rebounds, making six throughout the game.

The Hornets will travel to St. Joseph, Mo. for the Hillyard Classic on Nov. 8 to face off against Wayne State in their first game of the season. Tip-off is set for 10 a.m.