Fort Hays State, ranked No. 23 in the nation, rides a 10-game win streak into Kearney, Neb. on Wednesday night (Feb. 5) to face red-hot Nebraska-Kearney. Nebraska-Kearney has won four straight games, including its last three in conference play, currently at 9-10 overall and 5-7 in the MIAA, while Fort Hays State is 18-3 overall, 9-3 in the MIAA. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm at the Health and Sports Center.
Fort Hays State survived a pair of threats at home last week in overtime against in-state rivals Emporia State and Washburn to move into a second-place tie in the MIAA standings with Missouri Southern and Central Missouri. Fort Hays State moved at least two games clear of all the teams on the west side of the conference, but looks to keep that separation this week with a pair of difficult road contests.
Nebraska-Kearney had a rough start to the year, but has turned on the jets of late to vault to ninth in the MIAA standings, riding a four-game win streak. A huge difference has been Ethan Brozek, who became eligible at the start of the spring semester. He is averaging 15.1 points per game, which helps the already two-man scoring threat in Connor Beranek (17.8 points per game) and Mike Dentlinger (15.0 points per game).
Craig Nicholson leads the Tigers in scoring (18.1 ppg) and assists (8.0 apg). He ranks third in the nation in assists per game.
Dwayne Brunson adds 17.6 points per game and a team-leading 8.1 rebounds per game.
Carson Konrade, ranked third in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, averages 13.9 points per game.
James Fleming is averaging 11.5 points per game over the last six contests.
