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The No. 23 ranked Fort Hays State men's basketball team looks to bounce back from its loss at Northwest Missouri State on Saturday with another conference tilt at MIssouri Western on Monday night (Jan. 30). Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo. The Tigers enter the game at 13-5 overall and 7-5 in the MIAA, while the Griffons are 7-12 overall and 2-11 in the MIAA.

Fort Hays State put the Missouri Western away early in the first meeting of the season on December 10. The Tigers opened the game on a 30-4 run and eventually won 66-53. FHSU has a three game win streak over the Griffons, dating back to last season.

However, the last time the teams met in St. Joseph last season, the Griffons won by one point despite a furious second-half rally by the Tigers. FHSU was down 21 points with 10 minutes to go in that game and tied it late before the Griffons hit one of two free-throws with a second remaining in the game. The last two meetings between the teams outside of Hays have been determined by one point each, which includes the one-point first round win by the Tigers last year in the MIAA Tournament First Round. Fort Hays State will be looking for its first win in St. Joseph since 2008-09.

After the loss at Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, the Tigers are now in sixth place alone in the conference. A win by the Tigers on Monday would put them back in a tie for fourth with Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State, which are each at 8-5. FHSU is currently just a game back of third, owned by Washburn at 8-4.

The Tigers have four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Karron McKenzie at 11.7 points per game. Tyrone Phillips is right behind at 11.6 per game, Moses Dayee adds 11.1, and Kendrick Morse is averaging 10.1. Matt Simmons leads the MIAA in rebounding at 9.4 per game.

This is the second leg of the Tigers current three-game road swing, which finishes on Saturday, February 4 at Washburn. After the game at Washburn, FHSU plays four of its final six games at home, starting with Truman on February 8.