EMPORIA, Kan. - The Newman men's basketball team withstood a late rally from Emporia State, and picked up an 80-77 win over the Hornets Wednesday night inside a cold White Auditorium. Keaton Schultz was one of three Jets to drain four three-pointers as the Jets moved to 5-2 on the season.

After a sluggish start that saw Emporia State (4-4) take a 10-5 lead, Newman (5-2) tied the game at 10-10 just five minutes into the game. The teams traded baskets over the next eight minutes, but a Jaray Mathews jumper at the 8:30 mark gave the Jets a lead they would not give up. The Jets pushed their lead to 13 late in the opening period, but went to the halftime locker room with an 11-point lead, 37-26.

The Jets pushed their lead out to as many as 16, 46-30, early in the second half, before the Hornets started chipping away. Despite eight three-point shots in the second half, ESU was able to rally behind 16 free throws, and trimmed the Newman lead to within three on three occasions late in the game, but an attempt by ESU's TIm Niles to earn three free throws in the final seconds failed, and the Jets were able to escape with an 80-77 win.

Keaton Schultz drained four threes, and led the Jets with 16 points in the game. Chip Steven added four treys of his own and finished with 14 points, while a four-trey effort from Jarvis Jackson earned him 13 points. Jake Darby and Jaray Mathews added 10 points a piece in the winning effort. As a team, Newman hit 15 of it's 24 shots from long range. Mathews was also the team's leading rebounder, grabbing nine boards for the Jets.

Tim Niles led the Hornets with 14 points, while Jeremiah Box snagged a team-high seven rebounds.

With the win, Newman improves to 5-2 on the season, and 2-1 against MIAA opponents. The Jets will be back in action Saturday when they host York College in a 4 p.m. contest at Fugate Gymnasium. The York Panthers are ranked No. 30 in the latest NAIA poll.