The Fort Hays State men's basketball team hosts Central Oklahoma on Wednesday night (Jan. 30) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm. Fort Hays State enters at 11-6 overall, 5-4 in the MIAA, while Central Oklahoma has the same conference record but an overall mark of 7-10.
Central Oklahoma is new to the MIAA this year and this will be the only regular season contest with FHSU, but the Bronchos are a familiar foe from NCAA Tournaments of recent years. Fort Hays State played Central Oklahoma in its last three NCAA Tournament appearances, which includes 2011, 2010, and 2008. Central Oklahoma won two of those three meetings. The most recent in 2011, Central Oklahoma was the No. 1 seed in the South Central Regional and hosted the regional on its home floor, knocking the Tigers out in the regional semifinal. The year before, FHSU defeated UCO in the first round of the regional in Wichita Falls, Texas. In 2008, UCO won the opening round match-up by just one point in Stephenville, Texas.
Fort Hays State is coming off a six-point win at Truman on Saturday to stop a two-game losing skid. FHSU went 1-2 on the three-game road trip, but now returns to Gross Memorial Coliseum for a four-game home stand. Fort Hays State is still right in the thick of the conference standings, currently tied for fifth with three other teams, which includes Central Oklahoma, Lindenwood, and Pittsburg State. The Tigers continue to eye one of the top four places in the conference, which will receive an automatic bye to Kansas City for the 12-team MIAA Tournament at the end of the season.
The Bronchos have played well away from home this year with a 4-1 road mark in the MIAA. They are only 1-3 in conference play at home. Central Oklahoma's most recent road win was this past Sunday at Emporia State. They have also defeated Lindenwood, Truman, and Southwest Baptist on the road.
Fort Hays State has four players averaging double figures in scoring, lead by
Dwayne Brunson at 14.5 points per game.
Lance Russell (13.9),
Ben Congiusta (13.6), and
Craig Nicholson (13.2) are all averaging better than 13 per game. The top scorer off the bench is
Carson Konrade at 8.0 points per game. Nicholson is leading the MIAA in assists at 6.9 per game and Brunson is leading the conference in blocked shots per game (2.3).
Rundell Mauge is second to Brunson in blocked shots per game in the conference at 2.1 per game.
