Missouri Western (3-12, 1-7 MIAA) at Fort Hays State (11-5, 4-3 MIAA) Thursday, January 18 - 7:30 pm Hays, Kan. - Gross Memorial Coliseum

Game Sponsor: High Plains Farm Credit Promotions: Kansas City Chiefs mascot KC Wolf comes to Hays to entertain the crowd and take photos with fans! Also...Big Brothers Big Sisters Duck Toss -  Purchase rubber ducks at the door and throw them at men's halftime for a chance to win a prize.

Fort Hays State plays host to Missouri Western on Thursday night (Jan. 18) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. Game time is set for 7:30 pm, following the women's game at 5:30 pm. The Griffons come to Hays with a record of 3-12 overall, 1-7 in the MIAA, while the Tigers enter at 11-5 overall, 4-3 in the MIAA. The Tigers enter the contest tied for sixth in the MIAA standings.
 
Fort Hays State ran its home-court win streak to 10 games back on Saturday (Jan. 13) with a 78-69 win over long-time rival Nebraska-Kearney. Hadley Gillum led the Tigers with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Jared Vitztum scored a new career high 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field.
 
Fort Hays State won the last five meetings against Missouri Western inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, which dates back to the 2009-10 season. The Griffons enter the game tied for last place in the MIAA, with their only conference win over Northeastern State back on December 2.
 
The Tigers are looking for their 11^th straight year of posting at least 10 wins at home. The Tigers are 9-0 inside Gross Memorial Coliseum so far this year. Fort Hays State won at least 10 games at home in 24 of its 26 previous years as members of NCAA Division II. Since joining NCAA Division II in 1991-92, the Tigers are 357-58 inside their home venue, a win percentage of .860, and can reach the 300 games over .500 mark with a win. Now in their 45^th year inside Gross Memorial Coliseum overall, the Tigers continue to inch closer to 600 wins inside the building, holding a mark of 591-111 since the start of the 1973-74 season. In head coach Mark Johnson's tenure, which started in 2001-02, Fort Hays State is 214-40 at home.
 
Gillum continues to lead FHSU at 17.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Brady Werth also averages double figures in scoring at 11.1 points per game.
 
The Tigers remain among the top free-throw shooting teams in the nation at 77.2 percent. That ranks 13^th nationally. FHSU has also done well in sharing and protecting the ball. At 16.7 assists per game, FHSU leads the MIAA. Committing just 11 turnovers per game, FHSU ranks 13^th nationally in turnover margin (+4.7) and 17^th in assist/turnover ratio (+1.51).
 
Lavon Hightower is the only Missouri Western player averaging double figures in scoring at 14.1 points per game. Cole Clearman, the team's leader in 3-point field goals made (28), averages 8.3 per game.