WARRENSBURG, Mo. — It meant more than breaking Central Missouri’s 31-game home winning streak, more than just another road win in a tough MIAA environment.
As far as Emporia State coach David Moe was concerned, there was another reason to be excited after the Hornets’ 84-75 overtime victory over Central Missouri on Saturday.
“There are moments that can change the tide of a season and give you confidence,” Moe said. “This was one of those moments.”
ESU, after losing six of seven games during one stretch this season, has scrapped its way back into the thick of the MIAA race by winning three of four.
The toughest of those wins came Saturday, as the Hornets overcame a horrible start to give the Mules their first loss at home since January 2006.
“We came out and did what we had to do,” ESU guard Marvin Lee said. “This is a huge win.”
ESU was on the verge of getting blown out early, struggling for the second straight game to find consistency on offense.
Through 14 1/2 minutes, the Hornets trailed 21-8. ESU made just four of its first 19 shots.
“We always know our offense is going to be there. We just had guys come out tentative,” Lee said. “We just had to pick it up and come out aggressive like they did.”
It was then that an unlikely hero emerged for the Hornets: sophomore Doug Moore.
After subbing in with ESU trailing by 13, Moore’s defensive presence gave ESU a much-needed boost.
The 6-foot-7 forward had four blocks, three rebounds and a layup over the final 8 minutes of the half.
“There’s no question his play changed the game around,” Moe said. “His play lifted everyone up.”
“That’s my roommate, baby. That’s my roommate,” ESU guard DeAndre Townsend added. “He’s been waiting on his opportunity, and the last two games, he’s stepped up.”
The Hornets’ offense came to life shortly after.
ESU hit seven of its final eight shots of the half to go on a 15-2 run.
Suddenly, the Hornets found themselves up 27-26 at the break.
ESU essentially had to win the game twice down the stretch.
The Hornets led 66-64 with 27 seconds left and Townsend on the free-throw line.
Coming in at third in the league in free-throw percentage (81 percent), Townsend made the first shot but missed the second.
With one last chance, UCM tied the score.
De’Andre Byrd missed a 3-pointer, but Tremaine Luellen picked off the rebound and passed it to Joe Young.
The junior put up a leaning 3-pointer from the corner that rattled in, knotting the score at 67 with 7 seconds left.
Townsend’s three at the buzzer came up short.
Though it seemed UCM would have the momentum, ESU was the team that came out more determined in overtime.
Townsend scored the first overtime points on a layup, and then, after a Young 3-pointer, Townsend hit a 23-footer to give ESU the lead back at 72-70.
“I missed the free throw to seal the deal, so I knew I was turning my aggressiveness up,” Townsend said. “It goes to show that when I turn my awareness up, the team follows me.”
ESU’s Caleb Tegtmeier followed with another 3-pointer, and the Hornets stretched out their lead by hitting 9 of 12 free throws in the final 1 1/2 minutes of overtime.
Townsend led the Hornets with 24 points, with 17 of those coming in the second half and overtime. He also added seven assists.
Lee’s contributions were just as important, as he finished with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. The senior continued to put up shots after being urged to do so by Townsend.
“(He) kept telling me to shoot the ball because I usually don’t shoot it as much,” Lee said. “When the first shot hit, I felt pretty good. I got a good feel for it. He kept screaming at me telling me to shoot, so that’s what I did.”
Tegtmeier contributed 17 points, while Jordan Fithian and Wes Book had 10 each.
Book missed the final 6 1/2 minutes and overtime with an ankle injury.
With the victory, ESU (8-7, 3-3 MIAA) moved into a five-way tie for third place in the MIAA standings.
ESU men 84, Central Missouri 75, OT
Saturday at Warrensburg, Mo.
1 2 OT
Emporia State 27 40 17 — 84
Central Missouri 26 41 8 — 75
EMPORIA STATE (8-7, 3-3 MIAA)
DeAndre Townsend 7-14 8-9 24, Marvin Lee 7-10 1-2 18, Caleb Tegtmeier 6-8 2-2 17, Wes Book 2-9 4-4 10, Jordan Fithian 5-9 0-2 10, Andrew Davison 1-2 0-0 3, Doug Moore 1-1 0-0 2, Dustin Andrews 0-1 0-0 0, Matt Boswell 0-2 0-0 0, Spencer Allen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-57 15-19 84.
CENTRAL MISSOURI (10-5, 3-3 MIAA)
Tremaine Luellen 7-13 10-13 27, Joe Young 7-17 0-0 20, Kevin Wollbrinck 1-3 6-6 8, Fred Dudley 3-6 0-1 6, Josiah Miller 2-5 0-0 5, De’Andre Byrd 2-11 1-2 5, Walter Battle 1-7 0-0 2, Tyler Oakley 0-3 2-6 2, Nathan Frazier 0-0 0-0 0, Carvelle Taylor 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-67 19-28 75.
3-point goals — Emporia State 11-24 (Tegtmeier 3-4, Lee 3-4, Book 2-5, Townsend 2-8, Davison 1-1, Andrews 0-1, Fithian 0-1), Central Missouri 10-34 (Young 6-14, Luellen 3-7, Miller 1-4, Byrd 0-4, Taylor 0-2, Dudley 0-3). Fouled out — Emporia State: None; Central Missouri: None. Rebounds — Emporia State 39 (Tegtmeier 8), Central Missouri 39 (Luellen 11). Assists — Emporia State 16 (Townsend 7), Central Missouri 10 (Miller, Byrd 3). Total fouls — Emporia State 21, Central Missouri 17. Att — 3,600.