EMPORIA, KAN.— The Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team (0-1) used a 16-5 run in the second half to trim a 17-point second half deficit to just six points with 13 minutes remaining, but 23^rd ranked Emporia State (1-0) held on for an 89-73 win in the home opener for both teams Thursday night at WL White Auditorium.

 With 17:03 left in the contest, Eastern faced a 54-39 deficit when senior guard Justin Redman-Trotter (Milwaukee, Wis./Northern Iowa CC) converted a three-point play to spark a 16-5 Greyhound run over the next 4:03. Kendall Clark’s (Sr., F, Kansas City, Kan./South Plains JC) offensive rebound and tip-in pulled the Hounds to within 59-53, but an 11-5 run by the Hornets over the ensuing 4:43 pushed ENMU’s deficit to 70-58 with 8:10 remaining.

The Hounds managed to pull within eight points three times, the last coming on a pair of Travis Cooper (Jr., F, Fayetteville, La./Clinton JC) free throws, but they could pull no closer as Emporia held on for the win.

The teams traded baskets early on, until a Cooper jumper snapped an 8-8 tie, and started a 13-7 run, giving the Hounds a 21-15 edge with 11:01 left in the opening half. The Hornets scored the next eight points to seize a 23-21 lead as part of a 27-10 run which staked Emporia to a 42-31 lead with 1:03 remaining until halftime. The teams traded baskets for the final minute, with ESU holding a 42-31 edge at intermission.

Eastern held a 37-33 edge on the boards, including a decisive 14-9 advantage on the offensive glass. That advantage translated into a 15-5 edge in second chance points for the Hounds, but the Hornets responded by holding a 14-6 point advantage on the fast break.

Senior guard Kevin Davis (Larue, Texas/Western Oklahoma State) paced the Hounds with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, while Clark poured in 13 points and grabbed six boards. Cooper recorded 12 points while Jamaal McCoy (Jr., G, Missouri City, Texas/Navarro JC) turned in an 11-point, three assist performance. Redman Trotter finished with six points and six assists.

The Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team will return to action on Saturday, when they travel to Acoma, N.M., to play Western New Mexico University as part of the Sky City Classic. Game time is set for 7 p.m. M