Box Score EMPORIA, Kan. – Emporia State hit a 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining to take an 82-81 advantage over the Newman men's basketball team on Sunday (Dec. 15) at White Auditorium. The Jets couldn't score on its last possession, and ESU got the ball with 0.1 second left. After back-to-back technical from the bench, the Hornets made four free throws for the 86-81 final score.
 
With the score tied at 79-79 in the final minute, NU went up 81-79 on two free throws from Marquis Cuyler with 27 seconds remaining.
 
The Hornets scored the game-winning triple with 13 seconds left as Micah Swank put ESU up 82-81.
 
Cuyler had two opportunities on the last NU possession, but his first shot was blocked with 4 seconds remaining, and his follow up missed with 1 second left. The Hornets got possession with 0.1 left.
 
The NU bench was called for two technical fouls after the play, and ESU hit four free throws for the 86-81 score.
 
After falling behind 39-35 at the half, NU started the second half with a 10-0 run to take a 45-39 advantage less than 2 minutes into the half. Ryan McCarthy scored seven points in the run and Jeremy Espinoza hit a 3-pointer during the stretch.
 
The Hornets came back to tie the score at 55-55 at the 13:08 mark. With the Jets down 65-64, NU went on a run to go up 75-68 at the final media timeout. The Hornets tied the score at 77-77 and again at 79-79.
 
Espinoza had an outstanding second half, scoring 22 points of his 25 points in the second stanza. The 25 points are a career high and a NU season high. He went 7-of-8 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from three. He was 7-for-7 from the free throw line. He added six rebounds. Marquis Cuyler scored 14 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Ryan McCarthy also hit double figures with 12 points.
 
Kaleb Wright scored a game-high 35 points for ESU. He went 12-of-18 from the field and 5-of-8 from 3.
 
NU went 22-of-56 (39.3 percent) from the field, including 10-of-20 (50 percent) from 3-point range. The Jets were 27-of-31 (87.1) from the line.
 
The Hornets shot 53.8 percent (28-52) from the field and 50 percent (12-24) from 3-point distance.
 
The Jets return to conference play on Thursday (Dec. 19) at McMurry at 7:30 p.m.