Box Score

Fort Hays State men's basketball held off a tough Central Oklahoma team late for a 78-71 win in Hays on Wednesday evening (Jan. 30) in Hays. Craig Nicholson was big at the free-throw line once again in the clutch, going 6-of-6 under a minute to play to help the Tigers hang on and move to 12-6 overall and 6-4 in the MIAA.

The first half was a tight battle with the game tied six times and the lead changing hands five times before FHSU held a two-point 37-35 advantage at halftime. The largest lead for either team in the opening frame was five points by the Tigers, which occurred twice.

Fort Hays State looked to be pulling away in the second half, going on a 9-0 run to extend its lead to 11 points with 12:25 to play. But that would be the largest lead of the game, as UCO would steadily trim the lead all the way down to two points with 2:57 remaining. A three-point field goal and an old-fashioned 3-point play by Lance Russell pushed the Tigers in front by five on each of the next two trips down the floor for FHSU, but each time UCO responded with 3-point field goals to cut the lead back to two, the last with 1:11 to play.

Central Oklahoma had a chance to tie or take the lead with under a minute remaining, but a turnover was key in leading to Nicholson's first two of six consecutive free-throws that he would hit down the stretch to keep the Bronchos from leaving Hays with a win. After Nicholson's first pair of free-throws put FHSU up by four, Marty Wendel drew a charge that fouled out Josh Gibbs and then Nicholson cashed in again at the line after getting fouled. The Tigers would hold the Bronchos at arm's length the rest of the way.

Nicholson produced his second double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and adding a season-high 12 assists. Lance Russell led the Tigers in scoring with 22 points, one off his season high. Dwayne Brunson had 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and Ben Congiusta added 10 points. Russell and Brunson tied for a team-high six rebounds.

Spencer Smith led UCO with 24 points. He buried four 3-point field goals and was 8-of-8 at the free-throw line. Jamell Cormier added 15 and Josh Gibbs had 13.

Fort Hays State hosts Missouri Southern on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 2) in Hays. Game time is set for 4 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum.