Fort Hays State hosts Pittsburg State in MIAA play Saturday (Feb. 15) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. Game time is set for 4 pm. The Tigers look to keep separation in the MIAA standings from the teams in the west, entering at 19-4 overall and 10-4 in the MIAA. Pittsburg State enters at 7-14 overall and 3-11 in the MIAA.
The Tigers are currently tied for third in the MIAA standings with Missouri Southern at 10-4. The Tigers and Lions are a game back of second place Central Missouri and two games back of first place Northwest Missouri State in the MIAA standings. But most important, the Tigers are currently a game and a half clear of any other team in the west side of the conference.
The top four teams will receive byes to Kansas City for the MIAA Tournament, so the Tigers look to keep separation from all the teams in the west. Five of the seven teams in the west side of the conference currently sit in the No. 5 through No. 9 slots in the conference standings. Following the Pittsburg State contest on Saturday, the four remaining games on the FHSU schedule are against teams currently in the No. 5 through No. 9 positions in the standings. A win by FHSU on Saturday would keep the Tigers two games clear of Central Oklahoma (currently 9-6 in the standings) for one of the top four positions in the conference standings.
Every game continues to be huge for the NCAA Tournament picture with the top four teams in the MIAA all with six or less losses overall on the season. FHSU and Central Missouri are tied for the fewest losses overall among MIAA teams, Central Missouri at 20-4 overall and FHSU at 19-4 overall. Missouri Southern is 16-5 overall and Northwest Missouri State is 18-6 overall. The first set of regional rankings will come out next week on Wednesday (Feb. 19).
Craig Nicholson continues to lead FHSU at 18.1 points and 7.8 assists per game. He was fourth in the nation in assists per game entering the week.
Dwayne Brunson adds 17.6 points and a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game.
Carson Konrade is third on the team in scoring at 13.5 points per game.
