Box Score

The Fort Hays State men's basketball team won a game in grind-out fashion on Thursday night in Hays, defeating Lindenwood by a score of 70-61. FHSU evened its mark in conference play at 3-3 and is now 11-3 overall. Head coach Mark Johnson and Craig Nicholson each hit milestones in the victory.

The win gave Mark Johnson his 257th victory, tying Cade Suran for the all-time lead in wins at Fort Hays State. Johnson is in his 13th year at FHSU. Suran coached 18 years at FHSU from 1946 to 1965. Johnson could become the all-time leader on Saturday (Jan. 11) when FHSU hosts Lincoln at home.

With his first assist of the game, sophomore Craig Nicholson became just the seventh player in FHSU history to reach 300 career assists. He went on to record 11 in the game. On a layup with 7:33 remaining in the game, Nicholson also went past the 600 career point mark, finishing with seven points in the game.

Both teams struggled to find a rhythm in the first half and FHSU never led by more than seven in the first half. Even with the score margin staying within single digits all the way to 17:27 remaining in the second half, Lindenwood never led in the game. The score was tied only once at 8-8 in the first half. FHSU led by just three at halftime, 30-27.

After FHSU pushed its lead to 11 with 17:27 to go in the second half, Lindenwood chipped away and cut the lead back to three at 48-45 with 9:05 to go. FHSU pushed the lead out to nine twice before the Lions went on a little burst to cut the lead back to four with 4:39 remaining.

Carson Konrade was the answer for the Tigers in the final five minutes of the game. He scored 12 of the final 14 points for FHSU, all 12 in consecutive fashion from the 4:18 to 1:08 marks. Jake Stoppel found Konrade slashing to the hoop for a layin to extend the lead to six, then he buried a pair of 3-point field goals on consecutive trips to open the lead out to 12 with 1:52 to go. He then buried all four of his free-throw attempts when Lindenwood was forced to begin fouling in the late going. Konrade finished with a team-high 19 points, hitting three 3-point field goals.

Dwayne Brunson was the only other Tiger to reach double figures in scoring, just behind Konrade with 18. He added five blocked shots in the game. Andrew Victoria led the team in rebounds with nine in just 11 minutes of action off the bench.

Tyler Ressel was the only Lindenwood player to reach double figures in scoring with 19 points. He did the majority of his scoring damage on five 3-point field goals.

FHSU finished at 47.5 percent from the field, but just 25 percent beyond the 3-point line. FHSU held Lindenwood to just 38.6 percent shooting overall, but Lindenwood was efficient from 3-point range at 53.3 percent.

FHSU now hosts Lincoln (2-12, 0-6 MIAA) on Saturday at 4 pm looking to move back above .500 in conference play.