HAYS, Kan. - Stifling defense and timely shooting off the bench helped the Fort Hays State men's basketball team ease past Central Christian Tuesday (Nov. 27), 71-46. The win moves FHSU to 4-3 on the year, while the contest was treated as an exhibition for the visitors.
 
Fort Hays State never trailed in the contest, leading wire-to-wire after Aaron Nicholson broke open the scoring with a long-range 3-pointer from the left wing 63 seconds in. CCC closed within one after a pair of triples before FHSU turned up the pressure on defense. The Black and Gold forced eight turnovers over a five minute span in the heart of the first half, taking advantage to the tune of an 11-2 run to build a double-digit lead. Redshirt-freshman Nyjee Wright hit a pair of 3-pointers during the run, accounting for six of his team-high 14 points.
 
The home team scored the final eight points of the opening frame to take a 19-point lead into the break, 37-18. Trey O'Neil drilled a triple before Freddy Bitondo threw down a dunk after a nice pass into the lane from Wright. O'Neil wrapped up the frame with another triple, giving Fort Hays State 24 points off the bench over the opening 20 minutes.
 
After sitting for much of the first half due to foul accumulation, Brady Werth took over in the second half, dominating on both sides of the floor. The senior hit all three of his shots from the floor while adding six rebounds, three steals and one thunderous block.
 
Fort Hays State continued to keep its fellow Tigers at bay throughout the second half, leading by as many as 28 on multiple occasions. Central Christian was limited to identical shooting percentages of 33.3 percent in each half, with FHSU forcing a season-high 21 turnovers.
 
O'Neil (13 points) was the lone FHSU Tiger to join Wright in double figures, with both posting season-high scoring totals in the process. Each hit three triples in the victory, accounting for six of FHSU's eight makes from behind the arc, while leading the FHSU bench to 41 points on the night. Werth and Freddy Bitondo both grabbed a team-high seven rebounds while Kyler Kinnamon dished out four assists.
 
Mark Johnson's squad finished at 43.6 percent from the floor while outrebounding CCC by 10, 40-30. FHSU struggled from the line, hitting 15-of-25 from the charity stripe on the night.
 
Fort Hays State will head into conference play one week from tonight when Nebraska-Kearney makes the short drive to Hays. First tip in the MIAA opener is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 4.