Box Score
Emporia, Ks. - The Bearcats and Hornets played two extra frames on Sunday afternoon but in the end, it was Southwest Baptist coming out victorious over Emporia State by a final score of 87-80. The win snaps a three game losing skid for the Bearcats as they improve to 11-9 (5-6 MIAA). Meanwhile, the loss extends the Hornets losing streak to five games, making their record 8-12 (3-8 MIAA). 

Marlon Alcindor and Chris Rossow had career days to lead the Bearcats. Alcindor poured in 27 points, shooting 60% from the field (9-15), 50% (3-6) from downtown, and a perfect 100% (6-6) from the stripe. Rossow filled up the stat sheet with a career best 11 assists to go along with 8 points and 7 rebounds. Logan Hovey added another double double on the year with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Kai Woodfall and Damian Prgomet chipped in 12 points and 10 points as well in the winning effort. For the game, SBU shot 49.2% (30-61), 30.4% (7-23) on threes, and converted an outstanding 90.2% (20-22) on free throws. Points in the paint favored SBU by a 40 to 30 margin. Ball movement was excellent as well as the Bearcats assisted on 23 of their 30 made field goals. Emporia State did have the edge on the boards but only by one, 42 to 41. 

In the first three minutes of game action, the Hornets got out to a quick 7-2 lead. The Bearcats responded with an 8-0 spurt to go up 10-7. At the 12:39 mark, the game was 13-12 SBU. Over the next nine minutes, SBU exploded for 21-3 run to make it 34-15. The run was backed by a barrage of threes and layups from a host of Bearcats. Emporia would add a few buckets to make 36-23 in favor of SBU at the half.

To start the second half, SBU struggled to score and Emporia State took advantage. The Hornets utilized a 15-4 run of their own to make the SBU advantage just two. At the 8:50 mark, Prgomet extended the lead back to 49-43. Emporia State would rip off another 12-2 run though to take the lead, 55-51, with 5:26 left. With 3:57 to go, the score was 61-55 in favor of the Hornets, but SBU held them scoreless for the final four minutes and scored the last six points to send the game into overtime. 

The two teams were neck and neck in the first overtime with each team trading baskets and holding miniscule leads. The largest lead any team had was Emporia State's three point lead, 68-65, with 1:26 remaining. Hovey put the Bearcats on top, 69-68, on two free throws with 40 seconds left. Woodfall then sank two more free throws to make it 71-68 with 2 seconds on the clock. On the ensuing inbounds, Brandon Hall for the Hornets heaved a half court shot from the right side of the floor that banked in as the buzzer sounded. The play was reviewed and the basket was good, sending the game into a second overtime.

In the second overtime, Hovey helped the Bearcats to a 75-73 advantage on two free throws. Emporia State would tie the game immediately at 75 but two more free throws by Woodfall and a layup from Alcindor handed SBU a 79-75 lead. The Hornets would draw within one at 81-80. However, SBU ended the game on a 6-0 run to come away with the 87-80 double overtime win.

Southwest Bapitst will return to action on Thursday, February 1st when they host a rematch with Northeastern State. Tip between the Bearcats and Riverhawks is set for 7:30 PM from the Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar.