The Fort Hays State men's basketball team returns to the hardwood on Saturday (Dec. 29) at home against South Dakota School of Mines in a non-conference game. Tipoff is set for 4 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. The Tigers are looking for their sixth straight win and to finish unbeaten in December.
Fort Hays State enters the game at 7-2 overall. This is the final non-conference game of the season for the Tigers as they return to MIAA play on January 3 at Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. This is the first-ever meeting between Fort Hays State and South Dakota School of Mines, a school that is currently a provisional member of NCAA Division II as they make the transition from NAIA.
Fort Hays State's two losses this year were only by two points each. The Tigers rank second in the MIAA in scoring offense at 81.0 points per game and leads the MIAA in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 36.8 percent from the field for the season. The Tigers also lead the conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing just 29.9 percent shooting beyond the arc.
Dwayne Brunson leads a Tiger offense that has five players averaging double figures in points. He is averaging 15.9 points per game and also leads the team in rebounds at 7.3 per game and blocked shots at 1.9 per game. He is shooting 57.3 percent from the field and 89.2 percent at the free-throw line. Also averaging double figures in scoring are
Ben Congiusta (13.2),
Lance Russell (13.0),
Craig Nicholson (12.7), and
Carson Konrade (10.0). Congiusta and Nicholson are each shooting the ball at a high rate beyond the 3-point line, Congiusta at 48 percent and Nicholson at 48.1. Nicholson is also the MIAA leader in assists at 6.8 per game.
