Box Score

Fort Hays State erased a 10-point deficit in the last 3:30 of regulation and went on to win 79-76 in overtime to move to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA. Ben Congiusta buried a 3-point field goal with just over two seconds remaining to force the extra period. It was the second straight year the Tigers won in overtime in Emporia.

The run began with a pair of Craig Nicholson to cut the lead to eight with 2:39 remaining, then Congiusta hit a 3-pointer with 1:17 remaining to cut the lead to ESU lead to five. The lead shrunk to three on a Nicholson layup with 1:08 remaining and then he had a floater near the lane with 22 seconds left to cut it to one. After an ESU layup on an inbounds with nine seconds left, FHSU did not have any timeouts remaining. Nicholson found a trailing Congiusta on the play who buried a 3-point field goal to force overtime. ESU was 0-of-4 from the field and had two turnovers in the FHSU run until getting the layup with nine seconds left.

Lance Russell put the Tigers out front with the first basket of the overtime period and Congiusta buried his fourth 3-point field goal of the game to push the lead to five. FHSU held ESU off the rest of the way as a pair of Nicholson free-throws with 25 seconds put the lead back at three. ESU missed two late 3-point attempts and fouled Marty Wendel with three seconds left. Wendel could not put the game away on the first free-throw, but ESU could not get a shot off at the end as FHSU escaped with the thrilling win.

The win gave Mark Johnson the 235th win of his career at FHSU, tying Bill Morse for second all-time in wins at FHSU. He'll look to pass Morse when the Tigers host nationally ranked Washburn on Thursday (Jan. 10) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.

Dwayne Brunson led FHSU with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. Lance Russell and Congiusta each finished with 16 points and Nicholson added 15. The Tigers finished the game at 47.4 percent from the field and 38.9 percent beyond the 3-point line.

The Hornets (5-6, 0-3 MIAA) were red-hot from the field all game long and finished at 50.9 percent for the game. They were led in scoring by Chris Sights with 16 points, followed by Paul Bunch and Kaleb Wright each with 13. Terrence Moore had 11 and Tre Boutilier added 10.