WICHITA – The Newman men's basketball team opened the 2014-15 season with a 86-80 win over Emporia State on Tuesday night (Nov. 18) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets moved to 1-0 on the season. Newcomers scored 70 of the 86 points for NU led by Reggie Baker with a game-high 19 points.
 
NU never trailed and led the whole game after a basket 15 seconds into the contest.
 
In the first 5 minutes, NU pulled out to a 14-5. The Jets held an early 4-0 lead after a dunk from Cortrael Colbert less than 1 minute into the contest. Reggie Baker and James Pegues scored during the fast start, and Ryan McCarthy hit a 3. The Jets went up 14-5 on a layup from Kramer Ammons with 14:46 remaining in the first half.
 
The Hornets didn't go away, cutting the early NU lead to one at 14-13 with an 8-0 run. With the margin two at 17-15, the Jets went on a 16-6 run to open up their largest lead of the half at 33-21 with 6:17 left. Baker started the spurt with a 3-pointer at the 10:37 mark. Baskets from Pegues and Colbert increased the score to 26-19, and Baker ended the run with seven points. He made a layup and then hit a 3-pointer for a 31-21 score. The Jets went up 33-21 after a Baker jumper. A late first-half run by ESU cut the deficit to three, 40-37, at halftime.
 
The Jets scored the first five points after the break to gain a 45-37 lead with 18:57 left in the second half. Pegues scored and then Baker hit another 3 for the 45-37 score. The margin was as large as 13 points in the second half. NU went in front 59-46 with 13:10 remaining about a Kevin Sexton lay in.
 
With 2:42 left, the Jets still held a double digit lead at 79-68 after a Jeremy Espinoza basket. The Hornets tried to make it interesting, cutting the advantage to five at 79-74 with a 6-0 run in less than 2 minutes. The Jets made enough free throws down the stretch to get the 86-80 win.
 
In the first half, NU took advantage of ESU's turnovers, holding a 15-2 edge in points off turnovers. For the game, the Jets scored 23 points off turnovers compared to 12 for ESU.
 
Baker, a junior from Avon Park, Fla., scored a game-high 19 points. He added three rebounds, one block and two steals in 28 minutes. James Pegues added 15 points in only 16 minutes due to foul trouble. Luka Vermezovic scored 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Also in double figures was Cortrael Colbert with 13 points, and he totaled a game-high seven assists. Colbert also had a game-high four steals. Newcomers scored 70 of the 86 points for the Jets.
 
NU shot 50 percent (28-56) from the field. The Jets had 17 assists on 28 made baskets.
 
ESU finished shooting 48.3 percent (28-58), including 58.6 percent (17-29) in the second half. Terrence Moore and Josh Pedersen each scored 15 points.
 
The Jets welcome Washburn to Fugate Gymnasium on Thursday (Nov. 20) at 7 p.m.