EMPORIA, Ks. — For the fifth time in the Will Martin Era, Griffon Men's Basketball has toppled a top-25 team, taking down No. 22 Emporia State, 68-64, after erasing a 12-point deficit on Monday evening at White Auditorium. 

The Hornets (9-2, 3-2 MIAA) jumped out to a 17-5 lead early in the first half, but an 8-0 Griffon run capped off by a Julius Dixon three eventually brought Missouri Western within three at the halftime break, 28-25. Missouri Western (6-3, 3-1 MIAA) took an indefinite lead in the opening minutes of the second half thanks to a Zion Swader layup, which helped the Griffons go on a 14-3 run.

Missouri Western went up by as much as 12 at 60-48, but Emporia tried to keep pace, bringing the game within three with with 1:27 left to play. Clutch free-throw shooting from Will Eames and Reed Kemp kept the Hornets at arm's length, with MWSU making 10-of-15 from the charity stripe. Many Griffons shined bright at White Auditorium, with five scoring in double-digits. 

NOTABLES

• Reese Glover scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from downtown, moving him into second all-time in Griffon history with 219 made 3-pointers.
• Julius Dixon and Kemp led MWSU with 13 points apiece. Dixon has scored in double-figures in eight out of nine games this season.
• This is Kemp's second game in a row leading the team in points.
• Eames recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds to match.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western heads home for the holidays and will play Friends University (3-11, 2-6 KCAC) on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 7:30 p.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.