ESU Athletics
Don Weast, Associate Athletic Director
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – For the first time in school history the Emporia State men’s basketball team has gone on the road to win their first three conference games with a 76-66 victory at Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon.
Northeastern State led 3-2 when Emporia State went on a 10-0 run to take the lead for good. Four different Hornets scored during the run with Brenden Van Dyke capping the run with a steal and layup at the 13:42 mark. The RiverHawks cut the lead to two with a 7-0 run of their own to make it 12-10 with 12:27 remaining.
A Nick Reid three-pointer capped an 8-0 Emporia State run with a three-pointer to give the Hornets a 26-14 lead and force Northeastern State to call a timeout with 6:21 left. The RiverHawks cut the lead to five at 29-24 but the Hornets responded again as Austin Downing and Brenden Van Dyke combined for a 6-0 run to push the lead to 11 points with 1:40 left in the half. Downing ended the half with a layup with 1.3 seconds left to give Emporia State a 37-27 lead at the break.
The teams traded scores during the first five minutes of the second half before the Hornets second unit went on a 7-0 run. Gage McGuirestarted the run with a layup before Mayuom Buom got a break away dunk to make it 48-36 Hornets with 14:44 left. Dallas Bailey got the assist on both of the those buckets and then completed his own old fashioned three-point play with 13:02 left to give Emporia State their biggest lead of the day at 51-36.
The RiverHawks cut the lead to seven at 53-46 with 9:49 left when Jumah’Ri Turner went on a personal 10-4 run for Emporia State. He started with a fast break layup with 9:00 left and 30 seconds later hit two free throws before hitting a three-pointer with 8:03 left to give ESU a 60-46 lead. After two buckets from the RiverHawks, Turner finished his personal ten point streak for the Hornets with another three-pointer to make it 63-50 with 7:12 remaining.
Northeastern State had one more mini-run in them as Brad Davis hit back to back three-pointers to pull within 70-55 with 1:58 left. Downing drained a three-pointer with 54.2 seconds left to make it a three possession game. Van Dyke hit one of two free throws with 37.4 seconds left and Turner finished the scoring with a pair of free throws with 24.4 seconds left for the 76-66 final score.
This is the first 3-0 start in MIAA play for Emporia State since they opened the 2010-11 season with three straight home wins.
Jumah’Ri Turner had 21 points to lead four Hornets in double figures. Austin Downing added 15 points, Gage McGuire 11 and Brenden Van Dyke ten points. Van Dyke was the leading rebounder for Emporia State with eight while Dallas Bailey dished four assists.
The Hornets will make their White Auditorium debut on Thursday, Dec. 3 when they are scheduled to play host to Newman. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.