HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State picked up its first win of the 2024-25 season on Tuesday night (Nov. 19) by defeating South Dakota Mines by a score of 76-52 in its home opener. The Tigers moved to 1-2 overall on the season, while the Hardrockers dropped to 0-5 overall. Shaun Riley and Kyle Grill each had career highs in points, Riley with 24 and Grill with 21.
 
Riley dominated in low for the Tigers, going 10-of-12 from the field and 4-of-8 at the free-throw line for his 24 points. It was his second-straight game setting a new career high in points with FHSU after putting up 18 against Concordia St. Paul back on November 9. He also dished out five assists in the game. Grill went 7-of-12 from the field and made a pair of 3-point field goals, while adding a 5-of-7 effort at the free-throw line. He led the team in rebounds with seven. Kaleb Hammeke also reached double figures in scoring for the Tigers with 10, while adding a team-high seven assists.
 
The Tigers led from start to finish, making the first bucket on a 3-point shot by R.J. Crawford about 30 seconds into the game. FHSU opened on an 8-0 run, with seven of the eight points scored by Crawford. That accounted for all of his points in the game. FHSU finally stretched its lead to double figures at 24-14 when Riley completed a 3-point play. The lead dipped back inside 10 twice before an Aidan McDowell driving layup just before the buzzer put the margin at 10 at halftime (34-24). Riley had 13 of his 24 in the first half.
 
South Dakota Mines cut the lead to eight three times early in the second half, but FHSU finally created separation with a 17-7 run between the 12-minute and 4-minute marks of the second half to get the lead to 20. A Petar Asceric 3-point field goal that capped the scoring pushed the final margin to 24. Grill had a huge second half, scoring 18 of FHSU's 42 points after the break.
 
Fort Hays State shot a red-hot 58 percent from the field as a team (29-of-50), while holding South Dakota Mines to just 37.8 percent overall. Guillem Garcia had 13 points, the only player from South Dakota Mines to reach double figures.
 
Fort Hays State will have another week off before hosting Central Christian College on Tuesday (Nov. 26) in a contest at noon. For a second-straight year, Hays Elementary Schools will attend the game, which will create a unique atmosphere at the coliseum.