The Fort Hays State men's basketball team hosts Central Missouri on Wednesday (Dec. 5) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in the MIAA opener for both teams. Fort Hays State enters at 3-2 overall, while Central Missouri is 4-1 overall.
Fort Hays State and Central Missouri have built a rivalry in men's basketball since the Tigers joined the MIAA in 2006-07 as two of the top programs in the conference. Both schools have a very proud and strong tradition in men's basketball. The teams have split the regular season series in five of the six previous years. The Tigers avoided a season sweep last year when
Karron McKenzie tipped in a ball with two seconds remaining to lift FHSU to a 67-66 win in Hays. This year, the teams will meet just once in the regular season due to the addition of four schools to the conference. Fort Hays State will play only the four other schools within it's five-school pod twice, which includes Washburn, Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri State, and Nebraska-Kearney. All other schools in the conference FHSU will meet only once in the regular season.
Fort Hays State has won the last two meetings with Central Missouri in Hays. The Mules were ranked 25th in the nation last year when they lost in Hays. Central Missouri was co-champion of the MIAA in the regular season last year with Washburn and Northwest Missouri State.
Dwayne Brunson continues to lead FHSU in scoring and rebounding. He is averaging 17.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He is seventh in the MIAA in scoring and second in rebounding. He is also tied for third in blocked shots per game, ranks second in offensive rebounds per game, and fourth in defensive rebounds per game.
Lance Russell ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game. He is seventh in the MIAA in field goal percentage (.585) and third in defensive rebounds per game. He is second on the team in rebounding at 6.4 per game.
Craig Nicholson is leading the MIAA in assists per game, averaging 5.6 per contest. He has dished out a season-high nine assists in two contests this year. He is also adding 9.6 points per game.
Ben Congiusta is averaging 11.6 points per game and leads the team in 3-point field goals made with 11. He is one of four Tigers shooting over 40 percent from beyond the 3-point line, which also includes Russell, Nicholson, and
Carson Konrade.
Rundell Mauge is the team leader in blocked shots at 2.4 per game, which ranks second in the MIAA.
As a team, the Tigers lead the MIAA in field goal percentage defense, allowing just 33.9 percent shooting to opponents, blocked shots per game (6.2), and defensive rebounds per game (30.4). The Tigers are second in scoring defense, allowing just 56.2 points per game, second in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing just 27.1 percent shooting beyond the arc, and second in steals averaging 10.6 per contest. Offensively, the Tigers lead the MIAA in assists per game (19.8) and rank third in field goal percentage (.478).
