[box vs. Emporia State]
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| Sheldon Pace had 21 points and led SBU to their 13th straight win. |
EMPORIA, KS. ... Holding off a surging Emporia State (9-5/0-2) team, #7 Southwest Baptist took an 86-82 win over the Hornets to improve to 13-0 and tie the record for the best start in the history of the University. The win broke ESU's nine-game home winning streak.
With 1:28 to play in the game, ESU's Tyrell Sledge nailed a three-pointer to bring the Hornets within two, 84-82, but SBU's defense held in the end for the win. ESU had a chance to tie the game with 00:47 left but turned the ball over. SBU's Sheldon Pace hit one of two free throws with 00:13 left to give SBU a one-point lead and then Sledge tried to tie the game with 00:07 left on a three-point attempt that failed. Jim Grabowski came down with the rebound and was fouled. He then hit one of two free throws to make it 86-82.
Head coach Jeff Guiot says, "I thought the players played with a lot of heart and composure in a hostile environment. Anytime you can go on the road and win in conference, it's a boost for the program. But we are still not satisfied with where we are at as a team. Our rebounding needs to improve. When that happens, we will be another step closer to reaching our full potential."
SBU had two players in double figures as Pace led the way with 21 points. He started the game hitting his first four shots from the floor and ended the night 8-of-14. He also added eight assists. Jason Jemison went 5-of-10 from three-point land for 19 points. Grabowski was the leading rebounder with seven. Shawn Herrman had 22 for ESU.
It was a knock down - drag out first half as SBU held onto a two-point lead at the half. Jemison was fouled with just one second left as he hit both free throws. SBU jumped out to an 11-point lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. With 9:56 left in the half, Pace put SBU up by 11 on a layup. That was the last points SBU would score until the 5:42 mark. ESU put on a 15-2 run to take the lead, 36-34, with only 3:43 left in the half. Pace gave SBU the lead right back on a three-pointer with 2:55 to go and then Juan Lopez converted a three-point play just 16 seconds later for a four-point advantage. ESU tied the game again at 40 at 1:28 and made two free throws eight seconds later for their third lead of the game. SBU's Danny Norman tied the game for a fifth time in the half with 1:03 to go on two free throws and then the half ended on Jemison's free throws for the SBU lead.
ESU came out strong in the second half and scored the first eight points to regain the lead at six points, 50-44 (16:55). SBU battled back to tie the game at 52 on an 8-2 run. ESU overtook SBU again with 15:17 to go on a three-pointer by Ryan Blevins but SBU's Colt Blair tied the game with three straight free throws when he was fouled beyond the arc while shooting. After that tie, ESU only took the lead one more time, 65-64, at the 9:44 mark on two free throws. SBU took as big as an eight-point lead, twice, before ESU cut it to two with 1:28 to go in the game.
The game was dead-even in almost every category. SBU out shot ESU, 46% to 45%, and also had a better free throw percentage (72% to 53%). ESU did out rebound SBU, 47-34.
SBU will try for a school record 14-0 start against Pittsburg State on Tuesday, January 3rd, in the Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar at 7:45 p.m.
