Box Score
The No. 5 ranked Tigers suffered their second loss of the season on Monday night (Jan. 10) at Missouri Southern by a score of 82-64 in a battle for first place in the MIAA standings. Up 10 in the second half, the Tigers let the game slip away as Missouri Southern went on a 22-0 run to take a 12-point lead and control of the game the rest of the way.
The Tigers fell down 10 points in the first half, but battled back to within two points at halftime. They erased the MSSU lead promptly in the second half and built a 10-point lead with 12:48 remaining. That's when everything started to go wrong for the Tigers and everything right for the Lions.
A key turning point was just after the Lions scored the first three points in their 22-point run, the Tigers went on a fast break and turned the ball over on what looked to be a great layup opportunity. The Lions came to the other end and Jason Adams hit a 3-point field goal that bounced off the rim, high off the backboard, and back through that cut the lead to four. The Lions were off and running from that point as the Tigers turned the ball over on four of their next five possessions. MSSU hit 11-of-12 free-throw attempts and the Tigers were whistled for seven fouls within the run.
Dominique Jones finally silenced the run by the Lions at the 6:37 mark with a 3-point field goal, but the damage done. Adams, who went unconcious after that 3-point field goal, answered with another three to allow Missouri Southern to steadily pull away from that point.
Adams had just four points at halftime, but scored 21 of his game high 25 for the Lions in the second half. He was just a 47 percent free-throw shooter entering the game and went 8-of-10 at the line.
Jones led the Tigers in scoring with 20 points. Dijon Smith followed with 17 points and Ken Bowman added 10.
The Tigers shot just 44 percent from the field, their third-lowest shooting percentage of the season, but 20 turnovers in the game was too much against the relentless full-court trapping defense of Missouri Southern.
Fort Hays State looks to get back on track at home on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 15) against Pittsburg State (9-3, 5-3 MIAA). The Gorillas are just one game back of the Tigers in the loss column in third place along with Emporia State and Nebraska-Omaha, while MIssouri Southern takes over sole posession of first place for the time being in the MIAA. Pittsburg State plays at Washburn on Wednesday before making the trip to Hays Saturday. Game time is set for 4 pm on Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum, which follows the women's game at 2 pm.
New national rankings come out on Tuesday, which could actually see the Tigers move up possibly, since the new poll reflects just results up through this past Sunday. Missouri Southern should have a very good chance of moving back into the national rankings even without the victory over the Tigers on Monday.
