HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State used a 15-1 first-half run to build a 12-point lead and never let Nebraska-Kearney closer than seven points the rest of the way in a 78-69 win on Saturday (Jan. 13). The Tigers improved to 11-5 overall, 4-3 in the MIAA, while the Lopers dropped to 6-10 overall, 2-5 in the MIAA. Fort Hays State extended its home-court win streak to 10 games, going back to the final game in the coliseum from 2016-17.
The Lopers held the lead early by scoring the first five points of the game until the Tigers took their first lead, 8-7, at the 15:48 mark. Nebraska-Kearney's last lead, 12-10, occurred at the 13:33 mark before Fort Hays State went on its 15-1 run to build a 12-point lead, 25-13, at the 4:39 mark. The Tigers took a 29-20 lead into halftime, holding the Lopers 0-of-12 from beyond the 3-point line and just 24.1 percent shooting from the field.
Nebraska-Kearney scorched the nets in the second half, but the Tigers were even better. The Lopers hit 60.7 percent (17-of-28) of their field goal attempts, including four 3-point field goals after missing their first 14 attempts beyond the arc in the game. However, the Lopers could not stop the Tigers as the home team shot 72 percent (18-of-25) from the field after the break. FHSU held a double-digit advantage from the first basket of the second half (18:55) to the 4:27 mark. UNK pulled within eight with 2:55 to go, but that was the closest it got to FHSU in the second half.
Fort Hays State finished the game at 58 percent from the field (29-of-50) and an efficient 6-of-9 from beyond the 3-point line. Redshirt-freshman
Jared Vitztum had a big day for the Tigers with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field, which included a team-high three 3-pointers.
Hadley Gillum led FHSU with 23 points and nine rebounds, going a perfect 7-of-7 at the free-throw line.
Brady Werth added 14 points and
Marcus Cooper had 11.
Aaron Nicholson dished out a team-high four assists.
Trey Lansman, who entered the game averaging better than 22 points per game, led the Lopers with 27. He pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double. Lane Rohrich was the other Loper with a hot hand, adding 21. The Lopers had six other scorers, but none eclipsed five points. UNK finished the game at 42.1 percent from the field and just 18.2 percent beyond the 3-point line.
The Tigers host Missouri Western on Thursday evening (Jan. 18) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Game time is set for 7:30 pm, which follows the women's game at 5:30 pm.
