Emporia, Kan. -- The Missouri Southern men's basketball team used a 14-0 run to nearly erase a 20-point second-half Emporia State lead, but the Lions couldn't finish the come back and fell 84-76 tonight at White Auditorium. 

Southern (14-9, 8-8 MIAA) was led by 24 points on 8-15 shooting from Jason Adams. Adams was 5-7 from long range. Mariun Price scored 13, while Keane Thomann and Skyler Bowlin added 11 each. 

Emporia (11-13, 7-10 MIAA) was led by 22 points from Lamar Wilbern. Matt Boswell scored 15 and Dustin Andrews added 11. 

After trailing by 18 at the half, and 20 just two minutes into the second half, a three from Bowlin capped a 30-12 MSSU run that made the score 65-63 with 7:37 left in the game. 

Another three from Bowlin with just over a minute to go cut the deficit to two (78-76), but the Hornets converted 6-6 from the free-throw line to end the game. 

The Lions shot 51 percent from the field, but just 53 percent from the free-throw line, while Emporia made 21-25 of its freebies. 

Southern will be back in action on Wednesday night when the Lions play host to Washburn at 7:30 pm in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.