Box Score

The No. 8 ranked Fort Hays State men's basketball team suffered its first road loss of the season on Wednesday night (Jan. 4) at Central Missouri. Red-hot shooting by the Mules, coupled with Fort Hays State's poorest offensive performance of the season, resulted in a 78-40 loss for the Tigers. Fort Hays State is now 10-2 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA.

Central Missouri, now 8-4 overall and 4-3 in the MIAA, never trailed in the game and built a lead of 18 points at halftime by a score of 38-20. Fort Hays State shot just 25.9 percent in the first half (7-of-27), compared to 61.9 percent for the Mules (13-of-21).

The second half was nearly identical by the percentages, as Fort Hays State finished the game at an abysmal 25.5 percent from the field (13-of-51). The Tigers were 22.2 percent beyond the 3-point line (4-of-18), but did have one bright spot, the free-throw line where they went 10-of-11 on the night (90.9 percent). Central Missouri shot even better in the second half and finished the game at 62.8 percent from the field (27-of-43).

Karron McKenzie was the only FHSU player in double figures with 12 points. He has scored in double figures in all but one game this year. All other Tigers scored five points or less.

Dominique Long led Central Missouri with 24 points. He was 7-of-9 from the field, with two 3-point field goals, and 8-of-9 at the free-throw line. Three other Mules scored 11 points each.

The 40 points scored by the Tigers tied their mark for fewest scored in a game under head coach Mark Johnson. It previously occurred in his tenure against the University of Kansas and Northwest Missouri State. The 38-point margin set a new largest loss margin by the Tigers in an MIAA game.

The struggles in Warrensburg continue, as the Tigers are now just 1-5 at Central Missouri since joining the MIAA in 2006-07, with their only win in that building occurring in 2009-10 when the Mules were ranked No. 1 in the nation and the Tigers were No. 13 in the nation. The Tigers were nationally ranked in each of the losses over the last two years in Warrensburg.

Fort Hays State now looks to regroup for a key two-game homestand that starts this weekend when they host Southwest Baptist on Saturday (Jan. 7) at 4 pm. Then, on Monday (Jan. 9), the Tigers engage in a battle of Top 15 teams at Gross Memorial Coliseum when they host No. 14 Missouri Southern.