Box Score

A total of 205 points were scored in the overtime thriller between Fort Hays State and Missouri Southern on Friday afternoon (Mar. 2) at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. FHSU pulled out a thrilling 103-102 overtime win over Missouri Southern to advance to the semifinals on Saturday evening (Mar. 3) against the tournament's top seed Washburn.

Fort Hays State (19-8) took a three point lead with 13 seconds remaining when Moses Dayee hit one of two free-throws, but Jason Adams of Missouri Southern was fouled on a jump shot with seven seconds remaining. He hit both to make it a one-point game. On the inbounds, Adams stole the ball and was fouled trying to get off a layup attempt. He wound up making one of two attempts at the line to tie the game and force overtime. FHSU didn't get a shot off in time before the buzzer.

Missouri Southern (22-7) took the early lead in overtime by two on a jumper by Keane Thomann, who finished with a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Tigers fired right back as Karron McKenzie hit a 3-point jumper on the next possession to put the Tigers back in front by one.

Missouri Southern tied the game again before Moses Dayee buried one of his five 3-point field goals to put the Tigers back in front by three. The Tigers pushed the lead to five four times after that before enjoying their largest lead of overtime at seven points on a pair of free-throws by Dayee with 39 seconds remaining.

The Lions pulled close once again when Marquis Addison hit two of three free-throw attempts after getting fouled on a 3-point attempt. Jason Adams buried a 3-point field goal after the Lions pulled in the offensive rebound on the third attempt from Addison, which turned into a five-point trip down the floor and put the Lions within two.

The teams traded two makes at the free-throw line before Lance Russell hit a pair of free-throws to put the Tigers up by four and put the game away. Jason Adams, who finished with 42 points on 14-of-22 shooting, which included an 8-of-9 effort beyond the 3-point line, hit his last 3-point field goal of the game with three seconds remaining to trim the lead down to one.

FHSU threw a long inbounds pass to Omar McDade, who was fouled with one second remaining. After missing the first attempt, he intentionally missed the second attempt and Missouri Southern did not get the three-quarter court heave away before time expired. The Tigers escaped with a 103-102 victory, the most points they have scored since last year when they beat Bethany College 103-60 in Hays. It was the first time since 2009-10 that the Tigers scored over 100 against an NCAA Division II opponent, which was Southwest Baptist in a 102-89 win in Hays.

FHSU entered this contest averaging just 69.6 points per game, while allowing just 64.2 per game. Missouri Southern is the only team to score over 80 points against FHSU this season and did so in all three meetings this season. This win for FHSU avenged an 80-73 double-overtime loss in Joplin earlier this year, a game where FHSU let a 10-point lead slip away late. The Tigers also fell in the regular season to the Lions at home by a score of 82-71 when both teams were in the national rankings.

All five Tiger starters scored in double figures, led by Karron McKenzie, who tied his career high of 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field. He matched the season high for points by an FHSU player this year, which he also produced in a win at Lincoln in December. He tied Matt Simmons for a team-high 10 rebounds, as both players finished with a double-double. Simmons scored 10 points to earn his double-double, all of which came in the first half.

Moses Dayee also produced a career high of 22 points, going 6-of-13 from the field, which included five 3-point field goals, and a 5-of-6 effort at the free-throw line. Kendrick Morse had 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and led the team in assists with six, and Omar McDade finished with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field. The starters combined for 87 of the 103 points scored by FHSU.

FHSU finished the game at 53.8 percent from the field (36-of-65) and 50 percent beyond the 3-point line (10-of-20). The Tigers struggled a bit from the free-throw line at 62.2 percent, hitting 23-of-37 attempts. Missouri Southern shot 49.3 percent overall (35-of-71) and 47.6 percent beyond the 3-point line (10-of-21). The Lions were a bit more efficient at the free-throw line (22-of-30), but just one made free-throw was the difference in the game as the teams tied in total field goals made and 3-point field goals made.

Fort Hays State faces Washburn in the semifinals on Saturday at 6 pm. Washburn is the No. 1 seed in the tournament and beat FHSU in both meetings during the regular season.