Game Notes I Watch Live I Listen Live I Live Stats
The eighth-ranked Fort Hays State Tigers return to road action on Saturday (Jan. 22) at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo. Game time is set for 3:30 pm. The Tigers enter the game with an overall mark of 15-2 and a 9-2 record in the MIAA. Lincoln is currently 2-13 overall and 0-11 in the MIAA.
Lincoln's record can be deceptive, since they have played several teams close in the MIAA this year, but has yet to break through with its first conference win. The Blue Tigers lost four of their last seven games in conference play by just four points or less. Lincoln's last three conference games at home have been decided by 10 points or less.
Fort Hays State defeated Lincoln earlier this year in Hays 95-79. Lincoln produced its second-highest shooting percentage of the season in that game (.444), but Fort Hays State scorched the nets at a 55.2 percent clip in that game. Six FHSU players reached double figures in scoring, which included all five starters. Ken Bowman had a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. Dijon Smith led the team with 20 points, followed by Dominique Jones with 18. Ben Congiusta had a season-high 14 points in that game and Corbin Kuntzsch added 11. Pierre DeClue was the top scorer for Lincoln with 25 points.
Fort Hays State shot 50 percent or better in 10 games this year, but have not done so in each of its last four games. The last time FHSU shot at least 50 percent from the floor was against Central Missouri in Hays on January 5. However, Tigers still lead the MIAA in field goal percentage (50.8 percent).
Dominique Jones continues to lead the team in scoring at 16.9 points per game and leads the MIAA in assists per game (5.9). He is ninth in the conference in scoring.
Ken Bowman produced his second double-double of the season against Emporia State on Wednesday with 21 points and 11 rebounds. The 21 points was a season high for Bowman. He is averaging 12.1 points per game (third on the team) and leads the team in rebounds, averaging 6.5 per game.
Dijon Smith is second on the team in scoring at 13.5 points per game. He is second in the MIAA in field goal percentage (66 percent).
Corbin Kuntzsch now has 1,044 points in his career at FHSU, just seven from passing Bud Moeckel for 15th on the list and 11 from passing Marvin Andrews for 14th on the list. He is fourth on the team in scoring at 10.9 points per game and third in rebounds, averaging 5.7 per game.
Moses Dayee leads the team in 3-point field goals with 36, hitting at a 40.4 percent clip beyond the arc. He ranks fifth on the team in scoring at 8.8 points per game.
Karron McKenzie is sixth on the team in scoring at 8.2 points per game. He leads the MIAA in free-throw percentage at 88 percent (34-of-40).
Ben Congiusta has been heating up from beyond the 3-point line, dropping three shots from distance in each of the last two games. He is shooting 47.4 percent beyond the arc over the last five games and averages 6.1 points per game for the season.
Matt Simmons ranks second on the team in rebounds at 6.2 per game. He has four double digit rebounding games to his credit this year, reaching a season-high 16 twice. He adds 4.0 points per game.
Following Saturday, the Tigers head back on the road Wednesday (Jan. 26) at Nebraska-Omaha. The Mavericks are tied for third in the conference standings with Washburn entering Saturday at 7-4, two games back of the Tigers. Missouri Southern continues to lead the conference standings, one game up on FHSU at 10-1.
