Box Score The 24th-ranked Tiger basketball team pulled out an epic double-overtime battle against Emporia State on Thursday evening (Jan. 30) in Hays by a score of 99-92. The Tigers moved to 17-3 overall and 8-3 in the MIAA, pulling into a tie for third place in the MIAA standings with Central Missouri, while Emporia State dropped to 14-7 overall and 7-4 in the MIAA.

Down by two at halftime and trailing the majority of the second half, FHSU pulled within two three times before a Craig Nicholson 3-point field goal with 6:36 tied the game for the first time since the 5:28 mark in the first half. ESU pulled back in front, but Nicholson finally pushed the Tigers into the lead on an old-fashioned 3-point play with 1:50 to go. A Kaleb Wright 3-point field goal with 18 seconds left pushed ESU back in front by two, but Craig Nicholson hit a layup with 11 seconds to tie the game again. Wright missed a long 3-point attempt before the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.

The first overtime was a see-saw battle with neither team taking a lead of more that two points. ESU led by two five times, while FHSU led by two once. A pair of Dwayne Brunson free-throws knotted the game up for the 14th time with 46 seconds remaining. ESU turned the ball over and FHSU had the last possession of the period, but James Fleming couldn't get a layup attempt to drop at the buzzer, allowing a second overtime.

The teams traded blows once again in the second period of extra time. Achoki Moikobu was the story of the second overtime for FHSU as he buried two huge 3-point field goals. With ESU leading by three early, he calmly knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game with 3:04 to go. Later with ESU leading by two, Nicholson found him in the left corner to bury his second three of the second overtime, giving FHSU a one-point advantage. FHSU would not let go of the lead from there. Nicholson picked up another 3-point play driving to the basket on the next Tiger possession with 50 seconds remaining, extending the lead to four at 95-91 (FHSU largest lead of the game at that point). Moikobu and Nicholson closed out the game, going 4-of-4 at the free-throw line between the two of them inside the final 35 seconds.

Nicholson stepped up for a career-high 36 points, shooting 11-of-16 from the field, 1-of-1 beyond the 3-point line, and 13-of-19 at the free-throw line. He also dished out a team-high six assists. Brunson finished with 24 points and eight rebounds. Moikobu added 15 points, including a perfect 3-of-3 effort beyond the 3-point line.

Wright led ESU with 30 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Paul Bunch had a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Terrence Moore had 20 points and Jordan Tyler had 10.

Fort Hays State host Washburn (14-4 overall, 7-4 MIAA) in another pivotal MIAA contest on Saturday (Feb. 1). Tip is set for 4 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum.