Box Score Top-seeded Fort Hays State moved on to the MIAA Tournament Semifinals with a 79-60 win over No. 9 seed Missouri Southern on Thursday (Mar. 7) at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The Tigers moved to 20-7 overall on the season with the win, giving Mark Johnson his seventh 20+ win season as a head coach, which ties Bill Morse for most at Fort Hays State.

Fort Hays State will face the winner of the Northeastern State vs. Northwest Missouri State which followed the FHSU vs. MSSU game.

The Lions had an early lead on the Tigers, but the Tigers took their first lead at 14-13 on a Ben Congiusta 3-point field goal with 11:46 remaining in the first half. FHSU never trailed the remainder of the half, leading by as many as eight points before holding a 36-31 lead at halftime. At the half, Ben Congiusta was 5-of-5 from the field, 4-of-4 beyond the 3-point line, good for 14 points.

The Tigers looked to be pulling away in the second half with an 11-1 run early to push its lead to 13 with 14:45 remaining, but the Lions battled back quickly to cut the lead to three with 11:23 remaining.

Up just four with 7:21 to go, Fort Hays State made its final push to put the game away with a 14-0 run, capped with 1:04 remaining. FHSU held Missouri Southern without a field goal for 6:25 in the run.

Craig Nicholson and Lance Russell stepped up offensively in the second half, each scoring 12 after the break. Russell had all of his points and rebounds after halftime, finishing 5-of-14 from the field after going 0-of-6 in the first half. Nicholson finished with a team-high 19 points and seven assists. Congiusta finished the game with 17 points, adding a field goal and free-throw in the second half. Carson Konrade provided a lift off the bench with 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field, 3-of-6 beyond the 3-point line, and eight rebounds. Dwayne Brunson led FHSU in rebounds with nine to go with eight points.

Marquis Addison led Missouri Southern with 13 points, scoring all of his points in the first half. He was on the bench a good portion of the second half in foul trouble. Jordan Talbert had 11 points and RJ Leverette added 10.