The magic was back, if only for 28 minutes.
The Emporia State men recaptured some of their past success in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday, moving the ball effectively and holding a lead through the first two-thirds of the game.
Unfortunately for the Hornets, the run didn’t last, as a 29-4 Southeastern Oklahoma State spurt over the next 9 minutes was the difference in the Savage Storm’s 79-66 victory.
“It’s unfortunate, because running offense like that is what we’ve done all year,” ESU coach David Moe said. “Then, we just snapped for a stretch.”
ESU led 42-39 with 12:57 to go in the game before losing the lead it had held all game.
After a layup from Steve Harrel and two free throws from Matt White, Southeastern took a 43-42 advantage that it would never relinquish.
Meanwhile, the Hornets never settled themselves back down, going scoreless over the next 5 minutes, 22 seconds to fall behind 52-42.
“Some turnovers here and there, maybe some quick shots,” ESU guard Donta Watson said, “and that’s when the offense started to get away from us.”
It only got worse after that.
The Savage Storm extended its run to 29-4, taking a 68-46 lead with 3:58 left following a Jason Stampley layup and 3-pointer.
ESU had just two field goals during the 9-minute, 48-second stretch.
“When a team goes on a run, you need to be a little more patient,” Moe said. “We probably sped up a little bit.”
The Hornets hit four threes in a 65-second span, narrowing the gap to 72-62 with 1:28 left before Southeastern pulled away with free throws.
ESU executed its gameplan to near perfection in the opening half, going back to the passing-style offense that had made it so successful in the early season.
Though ESU only made two two-point field goals in the opening 20 minutes, it connected on 8 of 16 threes to take a 31-26 lead into the half.
“Coach had us go back to like we were playing when we were 16-0,” Andrew Davison said. “We were moving the ball — just moving, moving moving and getting good shots. I felt like we could get any shot we wanted.”
The deliberate offense also helped ESU’s defense. The Hornets held the Savage Storm — which averages 83.9 points per game — to 32 percent shooting in the first half.
Southeastern coach Tony Robinson said his team wasn’t expecting the slow-it-down style.
“Everybody I talked to talked about how high-octane they are and about how they like to get up and down the floor,” Robinson said. “That’s a tribute to them, because I think they could play about any style they want to. They really, really execute well.”
ESU also played tough early against Lone Star Conference player of the year Eric Babers with constant double teams. The 6-foot-8 forward — who averages 19 points and five assists per game — was held to four points and turned it over four times in the first half.
Davison led ESU, scoring a career-high 18 points. The junior, who hadn’t scored in double figures since Jan. 20 against Missouri Western, said he benefited from ESU’s unselfish play.
“I think everyone’s more comfortable in that kind of offense,” Davison said, “when we’re playing together and we’re using each other.”
Watson added 17 points but made just 6 of his 20 shots from the field. He received a standing ovation from the ESU supporters after fouling out with 34.5 seconds remaining.
The Hornets (21-8) will lose three seniors to graduation: Watson, Scott Elliott and Ed Desir.
Watson said the season was anything but a disappointment, especially after ESU made the tournament after being picked ninth in the preseason conference rankings.
“It’s disappointing because of how hard our guys have worked all year,” Watson said. “The group of guys we’ve got in that lockerroom, those guys deserve to be champions. Regardless of what that scoreboard said, to me, those guys are champions.
“I felt like nobody worked as hard as we did and played as hard as we did.”
SE OKLAHOMA 79, EMPORIA STATE 66
Emporia State 31 35 — 66
SE Oklahoma 26 53 — 79
EMPORIA STATE (21-8)
Davison 6-14 2-4 18; Watson 6-20 0-0 17; Townsend 3-10 2-2 10; Book 4-9 0-0 9; Tegtmeier 2-5 2-3 7; Fithian 1-6 1-2 3; Desir 1-2 0-3 2; Elliott 0-0 0-0 0; Andrews 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-66 7-14 66.
SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA (26-4)
Stampley 7-15 6-7 23; Babers 4-8 9-15 17; Rambo 4-10 2-2 13; White 4-5 3-5 11; Harrel 4-8 1-4 10; Talley 1-4 2-2 4; Daniels 0-0 1-2 1; Phifer 0-0 0-0 0; Woolsey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-50 24-37 79.
3-point goals — Emporia State 13-34 (Watson 5-15; Davison 4-10; Townsend 2-5; Book 1-3; Tegtmeier 1-1), Southeastern Oklahoma 7-18 (Rambo 3-7; Stampley 3-7; Harrel 1-1; Talley 0-3). Fouled out — Emporia State: Watson; Southeastern Oklahoma: None. Rebounds — Emporia State 38 (Book 8), Southeastern Oklahoma 42 (Babers 12). Assists — Emporia State 14 (Watson 5), Southeastern Oklahoma 16 (Harrel 9). Total fouls — Emporia State 26, Southeastern Oklahoma 16. Att — 1000.