HAYS, Kan. – After falling down by seven points out of the gate, Fort Hays State stormed back for a 13-point halftime lead and went on to win by 25, 82-57, over Newman University on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 19) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers, ranked No. 23 in the D2SIDA Top 25 Poll, moved to 9-1 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA, while the Jets fell to 3-8 overall and 0-6 in the MIAA.
 
The win marked Fort Hays State's first while in the D2SIDA Top 25. The Tigers were 0-3 so far when ranked in the poll's Top 25, which started in 2014-15. The win was also the 400th inside Gross Memorial Coliseum for Fort Hays State during its NCAA Division II era, now 400-70 inside the coliseum since 1991-92. The Tigers are 635-123 all-time inside Gross Coliseum, which saw its first season in 1973-74.
 
Newman held an 11-4 lead at the 15:25 mark of the first half, but FHSU went on to outscore Newman 40-20 the rest of the way before the break. The Tigers led 44-31 at halftime.
 
Fort Hays State enjoyed its largest lead of the game at the 6:15 mark of the second half, a 29-point lead of 77-48, before the final margin settled at 25. The Tigers continued their trend of holding another opponent under 60 points, now accomplishing the feat in eight of 10 games so far this season. FHSU is surrendering 56 points per game so far this season, which is second-best NCAA Division II and leads the MIAA.
 
Jared Vitztum led the Tigers with a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds, his fifth of the season. Vitztum was 9-of-12 from the field and 3-of-4 at the free-throw line. Kaleb Hammeke added 17 points, while Gabe Pieschl and Nyjee Wright chipped in 10 each. Traejon Davis nearly reached a double-double off the bench with eight points and nine rebounds. Hammeke led the Tigers in assists with four. FHSU shot 54.2 percent overall for the game, shooting above 50 percent in both halves.
 
Stevie Strong led the Newman scoring effort with 21 points. Ian Lee also reached double figures with 16. The Tigers held Newman to just 35.2 percent shooting overall, including just a 28.6 percent effort after halftime.
 
The FHSU men are now off for the upcoming holiday and return to the floor on New Year's Day in Tahlequah, Oklahoma at Northeastern State. That will be part of a two-game road conference road swing to Oklahoma.