The Fort Hays State men's basketball team hosts 13th-ranked Washburn on Thursday night (Jan. 10) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. Game time is set for 7:30 pm. Fort Hays State enters the game at 9-3 overall, 3-1 in the MIAA, while Washburn enters at 8-2 overall, 1-1 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State looks to keep pace with the upper half of the conference standings, currently tied for second. Northwest Missouri State is the only remaining unbeaten team in conference play at 4-0. The Tigers are coming off a 79-76 thrilling overtime win at Emporia State this past Saturday. Both of Fort Hays State's road wins in conference play have been in overtime.
Washburn, ranked No. 13 in the latest national poll, dropped five spots this week after falling on the road at Central Oklahoma this past Saturday. Washburn started the year ranked No. 2 in the nation and remained that way until its first loss of the season on the road at Newman after a 7-0 start. The Ichabods have lost two of their last three contests.
Fort Hays State looks to continue its success at home against Washburn under head coach
Mark Johnson. The Tigers are 6-1 against the Ichabods in Hays with Johnson at the helm. Johnson looks to move to second alone on the all-time wins list at Fort Hays State on Thursday night. He is currently tied with Bill Morse for second all-time, each with 235. Johnson is not too far from the school record of 257, held by Cade Suran.
Last year marked the first time FHSU fell to Washburn in Hays under Coach Johnson. Washburn enters with a three-game win streak over FHSU after defeating the Tigers three times last year, home/away during the regular season and also in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals. Washburn went on to play in the NCAA Tournament, falling in the semifinals of the South Central Regional in Wichita Falls, Texas to host Midwestern State.
Dwayne Brunson continues to lead FHSU in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. He is averaging 15.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocked shots per game. He is 11th in the MIAA in scoring and second in rebounding and blocked shots per game.
Lance Russell (13.6),
Ben Congiusta (13.5) and
Craig Nicholson (12.7) are all averaging double figures in scoring as well. Brunson, Russell and Congiusta have all scored in double figures 10 times this year. Nicholson continues to lead the MIAA in assists per game (6.9).
Will McNeill leads the MIAA and Washburn in scoring at 19.9 points per game. He also adds 6.1 rebounds per game. Martin Mitchell also adds
