Box Score
Free-throw shooting is key in close games, and the Tigers could not convert their opportunities in the match-up of the top two teams in the MIAA Saturday (Feb. 19) at Gross Coliseum in Hays. No. 8 ranked Missouri Southern pulled out a 64-63 win over the No. 15 ranked Tigers. Fort Hays State is now 21-5 overall and 15-5 in the MIAA, while Missouri Southern moved to 21-3 overall and 17-3 in the MIAA.
The Tigers held leads of seven points four times midway through the second half, but could not shake the Lions. With the Tigers leading 53-46, Jason Adams took over for the Lions, scoring their next 10 points to whittle the FHSU lead down to one with 4:07 remaining.
Corbin Kuntzsch could not convert the front end of a 1-and-1 on the next possession, then Skyler Bowlin dialed up a 3-pointer to put MSSU on top by two. Kuntzsch hit just 1-of-2 free-throws on the next possession for FHSU, then Bowlin hit a floater in the lane to put MSSU up three with 2:21 remaining.
Kuntzsch was fouled again on a cutting layup attempt with 2:04 remaining, but once again could only get 1-of-2 shots to go at the line to cut the MSSU lead to two.
Adams hit 1-of-2 free-throws for the Lions with a minute remaining to put the Lions back up three, but
Dominique Jones hit a runner in the lane for the Tigers to cut the lead back to one with 42 seconds remaining.
With the crowd of over 4,500 at a fever pitch, the Lions had just four seconds to get a shot away after a timeout with 11 seconds remaining. Skyler Bowlin threw up a despiration 3-point attempt that was pulled down by
Ken Bowman. He threw a quick outlet pass to
Dominique Jones, who raced to the other end and got a shot away beyond the arc just before the buzzer, but it fell off to the left and the Lions escaped with the win.
The free-throw line was the difference in a game where both teams shot season lows in shooting percentage (38.7 percent for MSSU, 38 percent for FHSU). The Lions were 10-of-13 at the free-throw line (76.9 percent), while the Tigers were an abysmal 4-of-12 (33.3 percent, another season low).
Dijon Smith and
Dominique Jones each finished with double-doubles. Smith had a team-high 17 points along with 11 rebounds. Jones finished with 14 points and 10 assists.
Ben Congiusta finished with 11 points.
Matt Simmons had a team-high 13 rebounds.
Jason Adams paced Missouri Southern with 23 points, scoring 14 of those in the second half and especially in the crucial moments of the game. Skyler Bowlin finished with 15 points and Keane Thomann added 10.
The Tigers go on the road for their final two games of the season, at Pittsburg State Wednesday and at Emporia State Saturday. The Tigers still need wins down the stretch to secure an NCAA Tournament bid. Even at 21-5, the Tigers are not a lock for the regional, especially considering the automatic bids given to conference tournament champions. Game time is set for 7:30 pm on Wednesday in Pittsburg.
