HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved to 3-1 overall for the season with a 74-53 win over Bethel College on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 23). Kyle Grill had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Dan Mukuna led in scoring with 22.
 
Fort Hays State limited Bethel to just 34.5 percent shooting for the game, including just 16 percent beyond the 3-point line. The Tigers also struggled a bit from the field, finishing at 39.3 percent overall. However, they did a good chunk of scoring damage at the free-throw line, where they were 26-of-30 (86.7 percent).
 
Neither team could find a bucket before the first media timeout as the game was scoreless through just over five minutes of play. But the scoring finally started to pick up when Blake Danitschek hit a shot at the 14:15 mark. The Threshers remained within six points of the Tigers until the 5:20 mark, but the Tigers used a 9-0 run at the end of the half to build a 14-point lead at the break (34-20).
 
The Tiger lead pushed past 20 at the 12:20 mark of the second half. It reached 25, the largest of the game, twice in the final three minutes before the final margin was 21.
 
Mukuna finished with over 20 points for the second-straight game. Grill went past 20 for the first time this season, while tying his career high in rebounds. Muhamed Kante posted a new scoring high as a Tiger with 13 points. Grill and Lucas Hammeke each had three assists to lead the Tigers.
 
FHSU held all Bethel scorers in single figures. The Threshers were led by Carmelo Yakubu and Albert Diarra each with nine.
 
Fort Hays State returns to action on Tuesday (Nov. 25) for a contest at home with Sterling College. Game time will be 12 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum as FHSU welcomes many of the area elementary schools to the game.