Box Score


Fort Hays State missed on a golden opportunity in the final seconds of regulation to try and force overtime in a 72-69 loss at Pittsburg State on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 19) in Pittsburg, Kan. The loss puts FHSU at 10-5 overall and 4-3 in the MIAA. Pittsburg State improved to 12-4, 5-3 in the MIAA with the win.

With 10 seconds remaining in the game and down by two, FHSU forced a turnover out of Pittsburg State on an inbounds since PSU did not have any timeouts remaining. The Tigers were able to call timeout with eight seconds remaining when they corralled the ball. However, the Tigers could not convert the big opportunity as Lance Russell, who had a huge game offensively, missed an open layup on a cut to the basket that would have tied the game with just two seconds remaining. Pittsburg State converted one free-throw on the other end and the Tigers could not get a good look at the basket on a length of the floor inbounds.

The Tigers had a big 13-point lead of 33-20 with 3:30 remaining in the first half, but a careless turnover on a fast break opportunity for the Tigers would be the trigger of a 15-2 run by the Gorillas to end the half, tying the game at 35-35.

Pittsburg State opened the second half on an 8-2 run, but the Tigers answered with a 9-0 run to take the lead back at 46-43 with 12:54 to go in the game. The lead changed hands five times until Marky Nolen, who entered the game just 2-of-18 from 3-point range, buried back-to-back 3-point field goals to put PSU back in front 58-55 with 7:11 remaining. The PSU lead grew to nine points with 3:41 remaining, but FHSU answered with an 8-0 run to pull back within one at 67-66 with 1:44 remaining.

The Gorillas pushed their lead back to five with 17 seconds remaining, but Russell buried a 3-point field goal with 10 seconds remaining to set up the turnover on the in-bounds for the Tigers. However, the comeback effort would come up just short. Four of the five losses by the Tigers this year have been by three points or less. Three have been by two points or less.

Russell led the Tigers with 21 points and nine rebounds, going 8-of-16 from the field overall. Craig Nicholson had 15 points and Dwayne Brunson added 14. Ben Congiusta also reached double figures with 11 points.

Fort Hays State finished the game at 38.8 percent from the field, its lowest field goal percentage of the year in a game. The Tigers had a higher percentage beyond the 3-point line at 46.2 percent (12-of-26). Pittsburg State shot 44.4 percent overall and 50 percent beyond the 3-point line.

The Tigers continue their three-game road swing next week at Lindenwood (Thursday) and Truman (Saturday).