Box Score

A last second shot attempt for Northwest Missouri State came up short as Fort Hays State held on for a 59-58 win on Wednesday night (Feb. 6) in Hays. FHSU improved to 14-6 overall and 8-4 in the MIAA with the win, putting FHSU in a tie for second place in the MIAA standings with Northwest Missouri State, which moved to 15-6 overall and 8-4 in the MIAA, and Northeastern State.

In a hard fought game that saw 10 ties and 19 lead changes, Fort Hays State found a way to win the game with its defense inside a minute to play.  Lance Russell, who had not scored the entire game, finally buried the biggest bucket of the night on a 3-point field goal with 1:10 remaining. That put FHSU back up by one at 59-58, just after Northwest Missouri State buried a 3-pointer on the previous possession to take a two-point lead.

Russell's 3-point field goal would hold up as the game-deciding basket. Northwest Missouri State missed a 3-point field goal on the possession after Russell's three, got the offensive rebound and was fouled. Grant Cozad missed the front-end of a one-and-one and Carson Konrade secured the rebound. FHSU got the clock all the way down to 14 seconds when Craig Nicholson missed a corner 3-point attempt, but FHSU got the rebound. Dwayne Brunson was fouled, but he also missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving Northwest Missouri a chance to win the game. After a timeout called with five seconds, Bryston Williams' turn around jumper near the baseline came up just short and Fort Hays State escaped with the win.

Neither team could build a lead larger than five points in the first half as FHSU led 34-31 at the break. The Tigers were looking like they might separate from the Bearcats early in the second half, building a seven-point lead with 16:31 remaining, but the Bearcats responded with an 8-0 run to take the lead back.

The Bearcats looked to be pulling away, going on a 9-0 run to take a 53-44 lead with 7:40 remaining, but the Tigers reeled them back in with a 10-0 run to take the lead back 54-53 on a Craig Nicholson layup with 2:41 to play, the lead went back and forth four times from that point with the Tigers prevailing by one.

Dwayne Brunson had a huge night for the Tigers with a team-high 23 points and eight rebounds. The 23 points was a season high for Brunson. He was 11-of-17 from the field and also recorded six steals and four blocked shots. Nicholson was just one assist shy of recording a double-double in points and assists for the third straight game, going for 13 points and nine assists. Carson Konrade was key off the bench, putting in 11 points for FHSU with three 3-point field goals and a pair of free-throws.

DeAngelo Hailey was the go-to player for the Bearcats as he matched Brunson's 23 points. Hailey also led NWMSU in rebounds with six. Grant Cozad had 16 points in the post. Matt Wallace dished out a team-high five assists.

The Tigers play long-time foe Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday (Feb. 9) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 4 pm. The Tigers enter with a four-game win streak.