Box Score (EMPORIA, Kan.) – The Central Missouri Mules battled back from a second half deficit to force overtime, but fell 74-72 at Emporia State on Saturday night on a layup with 5.2 second left. UCM had led 72-70, but the Hornets scored the final four points in the last 1:33 to get the win.
            The Mules (5-3, 1-2 MIAA) got off to fast start jumping to an early 15-4 lead behind nine early points from Will Kirksey. The Hornets (6-3, 2-1 MIAA) battled back though using a 17-6 run to tie the game at 23-all with 7:59 to play in the half. The Mules went back in front on a layup by Lance Beckwith, but Emporia State tied the game on the next possession and went in front with 5:44 to play in the opening period on a Tola Lawal layup.
            UCM tied the game at 27-27 on a pair of Beckwith free throws, but the Hornets responded with a 6-0 run on back-to-back threes to regain the lead. ESU extended the lead to 38-31 on a three by Taylor Euler before Widgett Washington's layup with three seconds left cut the lead to 38-33 at halftime.
            The Mules shot 41.9 percent (13-of-31) in the opening half, while the Hornets were 14-of-23 for 60.9 percent, including six threes.
            Emporia State pushed the lead back to seven right out of the intermission, but an 8-2 run by the Mules cut the lead to one at 42-41 with 16:24 left in the game. The Hornets led 45-41 with 15:15 to play, but a 6-0 run gave the Mules a 47-45 lead with 12:05 to play in regulation.
            After ESU tied the game at 47 the Mules scored four quick points on jumpers by Washington and Yavario Smith to lead 51-47 with 10:23 to play.
            The lead see-sawed back and forth over the next six minutes with the Hornets going back in front 63-59 on a 5-0 run. UCM got a jumper from Matt Webb at the 3:48 to mark to pull within two and another at the 1:57 mark to tie the game. The Hornets had two chances at the end of regulation, but had a pair of shots rattle out and the game went to overtime.
            Emporia State went in front on the first possession of OT, but Webb tied it up with a layup at the 4:15 mark. A steal by Boo Hunter led to a breakaway layup for Washington to put UCM in front 67-65. The Mules had a near steal on the next possession, but it left ESU open for a three to regain the lead at 68-67.
            A layup by Troy Pierce gave the Hornets a 70-68 lead with 2:43 to play, but Beckwith tied the game on a pair of free throws. Beckwith put the Mules in front 72-70 with 1:36 left in overtime, but Pierce tied it on a driving layup with 1:15 to play and Euler's running layup with six seconds left gave the Hornets the 74-72 win. Washington's half court heave glanced off the backboard at the buzzer.
            The Mules finished the game 27-of-63 from the field for 42.9 percent. UCM was 4-of-19 from beyond the arc for 21.1 percent and 14-of-21 from the foul line for 66.7 percent.
            Kirksey and Beckwith led UCM with 13 points apiece, while Washington had 12, Smith finished with 11 and Webb had 10. Washington added a career-high 10 assists to record his first double-double of the year.
            The Hornets shot 54.7 percent for the game (29-of-53), including 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from behind the three point line. ESU was 5-of-8 from the charity stripe for 62.5 percent.
            Chris Sights led Emporia State with 24 points, while Antonio DiMaria and Euler added 18 and 12 points, respectively.
            The Mules forced ESU into 21 turnovers, while committing just 13 of their own. Central Missouri falls to 0-1 on the season in overtime games and 9-5 under head coach Kim Anderson.
            UCM is back in action on Wednesday night when Lincoln comes to the UCM Multipurpose Building for a 7:30 p.m. MIAA matchup.