Rogers State (11-6, 5-3 MIAA) at
(RV) Fort Hays State (13-4, 5-3 MIAA)
Thursday, January 22 – 7:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. – Gross Memorial Coliseum
 
Game Sponsor: Vyve Broadband
Promotions:
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FHSU Student Success Night
Vladimir and Evgenia – Episode One Quick Change Performance
 
Fort Hays State Men's Basketball begins a key four-game homestand on Thursday when it takes on Rogers State at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Hays. The Tigers are riding a three-game win streak into the game, now 13-4 overall and 5-3 in the MIAA, while the Hillcats have won their last two and sit at 11-6 overall and 5-3 in the MIAA.
 
Fort Hays State and Rogers State are part of a six-way tie for second place in the MIAA standings. Washburn now has a three-game lead on the pack in first, still undefeated for the season at 18-0 and 8-0 in MIAA play. This four-game run of home contests for FHSU features three games against teams currently in the big tie for second, and one game against top-ranked Washburn.
 
Fort Hays State is coming off a 66-50 win at Northwest Missouri State this past Saturday. The Tigers ran their win streak against the Bearcats to four-straight games, sweeping the regular season series between the teams for a second-straight year. Juju Ramirez had a season-high 17 points in the win, hitting five 3-point field goals in the game. It doubled his 3-point field goals made total for the season. Dan Mukuna and Lucas Hammeke each had double-doubles, Mukuna with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Hammeke with 10 points and 12 assists.
 
The Hillcats won a pair of games at home last week, defeating Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern. They have been good in their home venue this year at 7-1, but hold a 1-3 record in away games. Their lone win in a true away game was against Newman back on New Year's Day.
 
Fort Hays State has won the last two meetings with Rogers State, taking the regular season meeting last year in Claremore 74-63 before winning in the MIAA Tournament Semifinal 61-43 on its way to the conference tournament title. The Tigers now hold a 6-5 advantage in the all-time series between the teams and have a record of 3-1 against the Hillcats in Hays.
 
Fort Hays State is now the national leader in both scoring defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense. The Tigers led the nation in scoring defense in both 2023-24 and 2024-25, and are back on top of NCAA Division II at 59.5 points per game after holding NWMSU to 50 back on Saturday. The Tigers have held opponents inside of 30 percent shooting beyond the 3-point line for 10 straight games and in the process, took the national lead in 3-point field goal percentage defense now allowing just a 24.8 percent success rate for the season. The Tigers rank fourth in overall field goal percentage defense, allowing 37.9 percent shooting to opponents for the season.
 
Dan Mukuna leads the Tigers at 19.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He produced his third double-double in points and rebounds for the season at NWMSU back on Saturday. He ranks ninth in NCAA Division II for field goal percentage at 64.6 percent.
 
Lucas Hammeke's 12 assists at Northwest Missouri State were the most by a Tiger since 2019, when Kyler Kinnamon also had 12 in a game. It matched the eighth-most in a game in program history. He averages a team-best 3.9 per game, while adding 9.6 points per game.
 
Kyle Grill (13.0) and Jahvari Martino (11.2) also average double figures in scoring for FHSU. Grill reached double figures in 11 games this season with 22 as his season high, while Martino has reached double figures 10 times and had a season-high 20 points twice. They lead the Tigers in 3-point field goals made this season, Grill with 24 and Martino with 23.
 
All five of Rogers State's starters average double figures in scoring, led by Andrew Mason at 13.5 per game. Jabryn Anderson leads the team in rebounds (6.4) and assists (4.6) per game. Rogers State's top three scorers for the season all shoot 50 percent or better from the field. The Hillcats average 77.5 points per game as a team.