HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State claimed a tight battle with Lincoln University on Saturday (Jan. 6) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers improved to 11-3 overall, 6-2 in the MIAA, with a 69-64 win. Lincoln moved to 9-4 overall, 4-3 in the MIAA. It was FHSU's sixth-straight win over Lincoln going back to the 2020-21 season.
 
Fort Hays State had to withstand several runs from Lincoln throughout the game to hold on by the tight margin. FHSU opened the game on an 11-3 run, thanks two a three-point play by Kaleb Hammeke and eight straight points by Bjarni Jonsson, including two 3-point field goals. The Tiger lead topped out at eight twice in the opening half, occurring again at the 9:38 mark up 22-14. From that point, Lincoln went on an 11-2 run to take its first lead at 25-24 and led once more before Jonsson hit another 3-point field goal just before halftime to put the Tigers up 31-29. At the break, Hammeke (15) and Jonsson (13) had combined for 28 of the team's 31 points.
 
Lincoln scored the first basket of the second half to get the game tied, but FHSU went on a 7-0 burst from that point, triggered by a baseline jumper from Traejon Davis followed by five straight points from Hammeke. However, Lincoln would counter with a 12-5 run to get the game tied again at 43-43 with about 11 and a half minutes to play. FHSU took the lead again and then used an 8-0 run from the 9:47 to 7:38 marks to produce the game's only double-figure advantage of 10 points. It was part of a larger 13-2 run.
 
Lincoln would not go away though, trimming the lead back down to just three after a pair of timely 3-point field goals. Both teams then had four-point runs and then traded baskets as the lead sat at just three with 2:42 to play. DJ Richardson made things very uncomfortable when he hit a step-back baseline jumper for LU with 40 seconds to play, trimming the lead to just one. However, Traejon Davis lifted the Tigers back to a three-point advantage on a key drive to the bucket that he put in after his man blew by on defense. FHSU fought off a three-point attempt from nearly 30 feet and the ball went out of bounds off Lincoln. Jaheim Holden, who had a huge second half with 13 points after the break, sealed the game on a pair of free throws with just three seconds remaining.
 
Hammeke, Jonsson, and Holden combined for 58 of the team's 69 points. Hammeke led the way with 24 on 7-of-15 shooting from the field and an 8-of-8 effort at the free-throw line. Jonsson had a new career-high 18 points, hitting a new career-high four 3-point field goals in the game. He was an efficient 6-of-9 from the field and 2-of-2 at the charity stripe. Holden was 5-of-7 from the field, made his only 3-point field goal attempt, and went 5-of-5 at the free-throw line. Davis (6) and Elijah Nnanabu (2) were the only other Tigers to score in the game. Hammeke also led the Tigers in rebounds (7) and assists (6).
 
Richardson led Lincoln with 20 points, followed by Elijah Farr with 19. They both had a team-high five rebounds. Franck Yetna also scored in double figures for Lincoln with 15.
 
Lincoln made one more 3-point shot than FHSU, but FHSU held a 16-8 scoring advantage at the free-throw line. The teams nearly combined for a perfect day at the free-throw line, FHSU going 16-of-17 and LU 8-of-8.

The win kept Fort Hays State a perfect 13-0 against Lincoln all-time at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Lincoln only has two wins in history in Hays, both before Gross Memorial Coliseum was built.
 
Fort Hays State remained one game back of Northwest Missouri State in the MIAA standings, but now has sole possession of second place. The Tigers will play their next three games on the road, starting with a trip to Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State next week.