Fort Hays State will play the first of two conference road games this week at Central Missouri on Thursday (Jan. 2). The game features a pair of 10-win teams, FHSU at 10-3 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA and UCM at 10-2 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA. Game time is set for 7:30 pm at the UCM Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
The Tigers won their final non-conference game back on Saturday, 87-62 over McPherson College. The Tigers are now 8-0 at Gross Memorial Coliseum this year and look to improve on their 2-3 record away from home. This will be the first of two games this week as FHSU continues the road swing at Southwest Baptist on Saturday.
 
Fort Hays State claimed the last three meetings with Central Missouri, with two of the three decided in the final seconds. FHSU won the last meeting between the teams in Warrensburg 69-68 during the 2015-16 season. The Mules held the No. 15 ranking nationally at the time. FHSU went on to win a blowout 81-54 over UCM later in the year in Hays. The Tigers held off the Mules in last year's only meeting between the teams, 74-73, in Hays. UCM holds a slight 12-11 advantage in the all-time series.
 
FHSU is in a tie for third in the MIAA with Central Oklahoma, both at 3-1. Northwest Missouri State and Washburn lead the conference race at 4-0.
 
Hadley Gillum leads the Tigers are 18.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He ranks fourth and tenth in the MIAA in each category respectively. Brady Werth also averages double figures in scoring at 11.4 points per game. Trey O'Neil is the team leader in 3-point field goals made (25), averaging 8.5 points per contest, while Kyler Kinnamon and Marcus Cooper each add 7.8 points per game. Kinnamon ranks third in the MIAA in assists per game (4.8) and fourth in steals per game (2.0).
 
Spencer Reaves leads UCM in scoring at 16.1 points per game, while Jakob Lowrance averages 14.6 per game in the post. Lowrance pulls down 6.3 rebounds per contest. Blake Spellman provides 4.2 assists per game. Central Missouri leads the MIAA in free-throw percentage (.774).