Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Emporia State men's basketball team finished on a 7-0 run to rally past Nebraska-Kearney in overtime, 87-86, Saturday night in Kansas.
 
The Hornets (11-11, 7-6) improve to 8-2 in White Auditorium while the Lopers fall to 15-7 (8-5) and are now tied for fourth in the MIAA standings.
 
UNK trailed for 35 minutes but rallied to force overtime and then led 86-80 with 1:52 to play. Emporia hit its final three shots, including a three-point play by senior reserve guard Jevon Taylor, while forcing the Lopers to miss twice and commit a last second turnover.
 
Taylor's bucket made it 86-85 with 52 seconds remaining. Chicago junior guard Yashua Trent missed a shot in the lane 18 seconds later and then Emporia senior guard Brandon Hall buried a jumper with 18 ticks left to provide the winning margin. He then was credited with a last second steal.
 
"We had a chance to win it at the end," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton. "That one is on me. I've got to do a better job. We wanted to screen the wing on the zone, which is what they ran the last two possessions. We got Isaiah (McKay) an open look but it could've been better. Yashua got into the zone but just didn't hit it. On the last shot, they kind of switched up (their defense) a little bit."
 
Scoring a team-high 23 points, Hall could've won the game in regulation but his last second shot was easily swatted by Iowa junior forward Trey Lansman. The reigning MIAA Player of the Week, Lansman's three-point play with 26 seconds left tied things at 76 and capped a double digit comeback by the Lopers.
 
Struggling a bit at the line today (21 of 29), UNK was down 34-24 with five minutes left in the first half. Down eight at the break, the Lopers didn't grab the lead back until Lincoln freshman reserve Sam Morris nailed a three with 1:32 left to make it 73-71.
 
"I was proud of the way the kids fought. Things weren't going our way most of the game. At a certain point, we were able to dig in and get some stops," said Lofton. "We had some guys come off the bench and do a really good job."
 
Kearney lost despite making 60% (29 of 48) of its shots, including half its three pointers (7 of 14). Emporia also was hot, converting on 53% (33 of 62) of its field goals, while having a plus eight rebounding margin, 31-23, as well.
 
Getting 28 points off its bench, Emporia saw Taylor score 13 on 5 of 8 (2 of 3 threes) shooting. Hall reached his point total by going 9 of 17 from the field and 4 of 8 at the line. Finally, the Hornets made just 14 of 20 free throws.
 
For UNK, Lansman had another monster effort; 31 points, three key blocks, three assists, two boards and a steal. Playing all 45 minutes, he went 10 of 14 (2 of 4 threes) from the floor and 9 of 11 at the line. This marks his sixth 30-point game as a Loper with his career-best of 35 coming two years ago in a loss at Hays.
 
Next, Morris scored in double digits (13) for the second time in three games. He made 5 of 6 shots and went 2 of 2 at the line. He also had four rebounds (two offensive) and a steal in 20 minutes.
 
Finally, Trent and Minnesota sophomore guard Isaiah McKay combined for 28 points, seven assists, four boards and three steals.
 
UNK hosts Central Oklahoma (14-7, 9-4) Thursday night.