HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State finished its non-conference slate at 5-1 overall with a 55-point blowout win over Manhattan Christian on Saturday evening (Nov. 26) in Hays. For the second straight game the Tigers outscored their opponent by more than their opponent scored, producing a season-high in scoring with a 95-40 result. The halves were nearly identical in scoring, FHSU taking the first half 48-20 and the second 47-20.
 
The Tigers clamped down defensively from the get go, holding the Thunder scoreless over the first 6:32 of the game. In that span, the Tigers built a 17-0 lead. Kaleb Hammeke had 10 of the 17, on his way to a team-high 22 points for the night. Hammeke also finished with a team-high seven assists in the game.
 
The Tigers' biggest lead of the first half was a 31-point spread at the 7:51 mark when Jaheim Holden buried a 3-point bucket. They went on to lead by 28 at the break. The Tigers were hot beyond the 3-point line in the first half, hitting 6-of-10 attempts, and were just a shade under 60 percent from the field overall.
 
The Tiger lead pushed past 40 when Haggan Hilgendorf buried a 3-point jumper with 7:50 to go. It was one of Hilgendorf's four 3-point field goals in the game, helping him to a new career-high 15 points. All 15 of his points came in 3-point bundles with one old fashioned 3-point play and a 4-of-5 effort beyond the arc.
 
The lead finally reached 50 points at the 3:35 mark when Traejon Davis canned a pair of free throws. Holden hit a driving layup with 1:22 to go to make the final margin rest at 55.
 
Aside from Hammeke and Hilgendorf, Gilbert Peters also reached double figures with a season-high 10 points, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 at the free-throw line. The Tiger bench provided more than half of the scoring with 52 points. Lucas Hammeke had four assists, combining with his brother for 11 of the team's 20 helpers. Gabe Pieschl pulled down a team-high six rebounds. FHSU outrebounded MCC 42-27. FHSU finished at 59.4 percent from the field, going exactly 19-of-32 from the field in each half, and 50 percent beyond the 3-point line (12-of-24).
 
Traymont Lindsey and Jamie Juncal led the scoring effort for Manhattan Christian with eight points each. The Thunder shot just 28.8 percent from the field.
 
The Tigers open MIAA play next week when they host Northeastern State on Thursday night (Dec. 1) at 7:30 p.m.