HAYS, Kan. - The seventh-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team returned to the win column on Thursday, defeating Emporia State 87-65. The win is the Tigers' fifth-straight win over the Lady Hornets, their longest winning streak over ESU in series history.

Junior guard Brooke Loewe&nbsp;distributed 13 assists in the blowout win, tying the FHSU program record for assists in a single game (Shanell Watson at Rockhurst 1/28/03, Robin Greene vs. Pittsburg State 2/20/1981).

The Tigers improve to 13-1 on the year and 4-1 in MIAA play, while the Lady Hornets dip to 7-7 overall and 2-3 in league action. The win is FHSU's eighth win by 20 or more points this season and its third win over a league rival by at least 20 points.

Emporia State took control early, scoring the first five points before the Tiger offense came alive two minutes into the contest. FHSU outscored the visitors 27-12 over that stretch, knocking down 56.3 percent from the floor to race in front by 10, 29-19. Sophomore Talexa Weeter and graduate student Olivia Hollenbeck&nbsp;had things rolling in the opening frame, with Weeter totaling 12 points and Hollenbeck adding eight.

Two more baskets from Weeter early in the second quarter put the Tigers up by 12 before the Lady Hornets stormed back, using a 12-1 run over the next five minutes to close within one, 34-33. Ellie Stearns&nbsp;stopped the bleeding with a basket before the Hornets scored the next four, taking a one-point lead with 10 seconds to go before halftime on a Gracie Gilpin 3-pointer.After ending the first quarter with a 3-pointer just before the buzzer, Weeter hit a layup with one second on the clock to give the Tigers a 38-37 lead at the break.

The second half was all Fort Hays State, with the Tigers outscoring ESU 49-28 over the final 20 minutes of action. FHSU hit 60 percent from the floor after halftime, including a 75-percent shooting effort in the fourth quarter (12-of-16) to put the game on ice.

Emporia State kept things close until early in the fourth quarter, with the Lady Hornets trailing by just five with 7:42 left in the final frame. The Tigers then hit 10-of-13 down the stretch while holding the Hornets to just 3-of-15 shooting, leading to a 25-8 FHSU run to close the contest.

Hollenbeck led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting while adding three blocks and two steals on the defensive end. Weeter chipped in 21 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, giving the Goodland, Kan. native her second double-double of the season.

Katie DeGarmo&nbsp;added 14 points, while Kate Dilsaver&nbsp;added 12 and Ellie Stearns&nbsp;contributed 10 to give FHSU five players in double figures for a third time this season.

Fort Hays State knocked down 47.0 percent from the floor in the game (31-of-66) while limiting the Lady Hornets to a shooting percentage of 31.5 percent (23-of-73). The Tigers outrebounded ESU by seven, 47-40, while Tigers outscored the Lady Hornets 22-6 in transition and 46-26 in the paint.

The Tigers will return to action in one week when they look to avenge their only loss of the season as they host Missouri Western on January 16 beginning at 5:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736483634599.png" alt="Fort Hays State's Brooke Loewe (5) passes the ball in an NCAA college basketball game against Emporia State on Thursday, January 9, 2025 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmann)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Brooke Loewe (5) passes the ball in an NCAA college basketball game against Emporia State on Thursday, January 9, 2025 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. - The seventh-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team returned to the win column on Thursday, defeating Emporia State 87-65. The win is the Tigers' fifth-straight win over the Lady Hornets, their longest winning streak over ESU in series history.Junior guard Brooke Loewe&nbsp;distributed 13 assists in the blowout win, tying the FHSU program record for assists in a single game (Shanell Watson at Rockhurst 1/28/03, Robin Greene vs. Pittsburg State 2/20/1981).<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2005658351&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/coach-talia-khars-postgame" title="Talia Kahrs Postgame vs. Emporia State (January 9, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Talia Kahrs Postgame vs. Emporia State (January 9, 2025)</a></div></div>The Tigers improve to 13-1 on the year and 4-1 in MIAA play, while the Lady Hornets dip to 7-7 overall and 2-3 in league action. The win is FHSU's eighth win by 20 or more points this season and its third win over a league rival by at least 20 points.Emporia State took control early, scoring the first five points before the Tiger offense came alive two minutes into the contest. FHSU outscored the visitors 27-12 over that stretch, knocking down 56.3 percent from the floor to race in front by 10, 29-19. Sophomore Talexa Weeter and graduate student Olivia Hollenbeck&nbsp;had things rolling in the opening frame, with Weeter totaling 12 points and Hollenbeck adding eight.Two more baskets from Weeter early in the second quarter put the Tigers up by 12 before the Lady Hornets stormed back, using a 12-1 run over the next five minutes to close within one, 34-33. Ellie Stearns&nbsp;stopped the bleeding with a basket before the Hornets scored the next four, taking a one-point lead with 10 seconds to go before halftime on a Gracie Gilpin 3-pointer.After ending the first quarter with a 3-pointer just before the buzzer, Weeter hit a layup with one second on the clock to give the Tigers a 38-37 lead at the break.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2005659903&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/kate-dilsaver-postgame-vs" title="Kate Dilsaver Postgame vs Emporia State (January 9, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Kate Dilsaver Postgame vs Emporia State (January 9, 2025)</a></div></div>The second half was all Fort Hays State, with the Tigers outscoring ESU 49-28 over the final 20 minutes of action. FHSU hit 60 percent from the floor after halftime, including a 75-percent shooting effort in the fourth quarter (12-of-16) to put the game on ice.Emporia State kept things close until early in the fourth quarter, with the Lady Hornets trailing by just five with 7:42 left in the final frame. The Tigers then hit 10-of-13 down the stretch while holding the Hornets to just 3-of-15 shooting, leading to a 25-8 FHSU run to close the contest.Hollenbeck led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting while adding three blocks and two steals on the defensive end. Weeter chipped in 21 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, giving the Goodland, Kan. native her second double-double of the season.Katie DeGarmo&nbsp;added 14 points, while Kate Dilsaver&nbsp;added 12 and Ellie Stearns&nbsp;contributed 10 to give FHSU five players in double figures for a third time this season.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2005657155&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fhsu-wbkb-highlights-vs-emporia-state-jan-9th-25" title="#7 Fort Hays State WBB Highlights vs. Emporia State (January 9, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">#7 Fort Hays State WBB Highlights vs. Emporia State (January 9, 2025)</a></div></div>Fort Hays State knocked down 47.0 percent from the floor in the game (31-of-66) while limiting the Lady Hornets to a shooting percentage of 31.5 percent (23-of-73). The Tigers outrebounded ESU by seven, 47-40, while Tigers outscored the Lady Hornets 22-6 in transition and 46-26 in the paint.UP NEXTThe Tigers will return to action in one week when they look to avenge their only loss of the season as they host Missouri Western on January 16 beginning at 5:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Loewe's school-record 13 assists help No. 7 Tigers top Emporia State

Emporia State (4-9, 1-3 MIAA) at Fort Hays State (9-4, 2-2 MIAA) Thursday, January 9 • 7:30 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum Game Sponsor:&nbsp;Buff Car Wash National Anthem:&nbsp;Colby High School Promotions:&nbsp;Senior Citizen Day ($5 GA tickets for ages 55 and older) / Ohiole Dibua Street Twirler Performance at Halftime

Radio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

Fort Hays State returns to action at home on Thursday night, hosting in-state rival Emporia State at 7:30 p.m. It is the start of a three-game homestand for FHSU with a pair of games at home ahead the following week. Fort Hays State is receiving votes in the NABC national poll and enters at 9-4 overall, 2-2 in the MIAA, while Emporia State is 4-9 overall and 1-3 in the MIAA.

This will be the first of two meetings in the regular season with Emporia State this year. The Tigers and Hornets are meeting twice in the regular season for the first time since 2019-20 after meeting once each of the last four seasons. FHSU has met Emporia State more times than any other opponent in program history and this will be the 195th&nbsp;meeting between the schools. FHSU holds a 107-87 advantage in the all-time series.

Fort Hays State won the last three meetings in the series going back to the 2021-22 season. The first two wins of the streak were in Emporia, including one in overtime, and FHSU won last year's meeting in Hays 67-62. Looking beyond the last three, FHSU has won nine of the last 11 in the series history and both Emporia State wins were by three points or less.

Kaleb Hammeke&nbsp;on the verge of becoming the all-time scoring leader in FHSU history, now just 11 points shy of Alonzo Goldston's record of 1,766 points. In the last contest against Missouri Western back on Saturday, Hammeke became the fourth player in program history to reach 500 career assists. He became the only player in program history with 1,700 points and 500 assists. Hammeke is one of only two active NCAA Division II players with at least 1,700 points and 500 assists, joining Sam Rolle IV of Davis &amp; Elkins College (W.Va.) who has 2,116 points and 610 assists.

Hammeke leads the Tigers in scoring and assists. He averages 15.1 points and 4.8 assists per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kyle-grill/8223">Kyle Grill</a>&nbsp;(11.7) and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/shaun-riley/8227">Shaun Riley</a>&nbsp;(10.9) also average double figures in scoring. Riley leads the Tigers in rebounding at 6.7 per game. Grill is tied with Hammeke for the most 3-point field goals made on the team, each with 22.Fort Hays State had a five-game win streak snapped this past Saturday at Missouri Western, falling 47-44 in a tight defensive battle. The Tigers have held five of their last six opponents to less than 60 points and held both opponents in their most recent road swing under 50 points. Washburn (71) and Concordia-St. Paul (82) are the only teams the Tigers did not hold inside of 70 so far this season.

Fort Hays State currently owns the third-best scoring defense in NCAA Division II at 59.7 points per game. The Tigers led the nation in the category last year when they finished at 57.9 points per game allowed. FHSU is holding opponents to just 38.2 percent shooting overall, which ranks seventh nationally. FHSU has also done well at ball security, averaging just 9.5 turnovers per game, which ranks fifth nationally. The Tigers have been efficient shooting beyond the 3-point line this year with a 40.4 percent success rate, which ranks seventh nationally.

Emporia State enters this contest on a three-game slide, which includes a non-conference loss to Rockhurst before falling at home to Central Missouri and Washburn. ESU's last win was back on December 17 against Sterling College. The Hornets' lone MIAA win was a 74-72 result at Missouri Western back on December 7. Malik Edwards Jr. leads the Hornets in scoring at 13.3 points per game. The Hornets are in their first year under head coach Tom Billeter, who coached at Augustana University (S.D.) for 21 years from 2003-2024 and North Dakota State for five years from 1992-97.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736371785457.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsEmporia State (4-9, 1-3 MIAA) at Fort Hays State (9-4, 2-2 MIAA) Thursday, January 9 • 7:30 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum Game Sponsor:&nbsp;Buff Car Wash National Anthem:&nbsp;Colby High School Promotions:&nbsp;Senior Citizen Day ($5 GA tickets for ages 55 and older) / Ohiole Dibua Street Twirler Performance at HalftimeRadio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>Fort Hays State returns to action at home on Thursday night, hosting in-state rival Emporia State at 7:30 p.m. It is the start of a three-game homestand for FHSU with a pair of games at home ahead the following week. Fort Hays State is receiving votes in the NABC national poll and enters at 9-4 overall, 2-2 in the MIAA, while Emporia State is 4-9 overall and 1-3 in the MIAA.This will be the first of two meetings in the regular season with Emporia State this year. The Tigers and Hornets are meeting twice in the regular season for the first time since 2019-20 after meeting once each of the last four seasons. FHSU has met Emporia State more times than any other opponent in program history and this will be the 195th&nbsp;meeting between the schools. FHSU holds a 107-87 advantage in the all-time series.Fort Hays State won the last three meetings in the series going back to the 2021-22 season. The first two wins of the streak were in Emporia, including one in overtime, and FHSU won last year's meeting in Hays 67-62. Looking beyond the last three, FHSU has won nine of the last 11 in the series history and both Emporia State wins were by three points or less.Kaleb Hammeke&nbsp;on the verge of becoming the all-time scoring leader in FHSU history, now just 11 points shy of Alonzo Goldston's record of 1,766 points. In the last contest against Missouri Western back on Saturday, Hammeke became the fourth player in program history to reach 500 career assists. He became the only player in program history with 1,700 points and 500 assists. Hammeke is one of only two active NCAA Division II players with at least 1,700 points and 500 assists, joining Sam Rolle IV of Davis &amp; Elkins College (W.Va.) who has 2,116 points and 610 assists.Hammeke leads the Tigers in scoring and assists. He averages 15.1 points and 4.8 assists per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kyle-grill/8223">Kyle Grill</a>&nbsp;(11.7) and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/shaun-riley/8227">Shaun Riley</a>&nbsp;(10.9) also average double figures in scoring. Riley leads the Tigers in rebounding at 6.7 per game. Grill is tied with Hammeke for the most 3-point field goals made on the team, each with 22.Fort Hays State had a five-game win streak snapped this past Saturday at Missouri Western, falling 47-44 in a tight defensive battle. The Tigers have held five of their last six opponents to less than 60 points and held both opponents in their most recent road swing under 50 points. Washburn (71) and Concordia-St. Paul (82) are the only teams the Tigers did not hold inside of 70 so far this season.Fort Hays State currently owns the third-best scoring defense in NCAA Division II at 59.7 points per game. The Tigers led the nation in the category last year when they finished at 57.9 points per game allowed. FHSU is holding opponents to just 38.2 percent shooting overall, which ranks seventh nationally. FHSU has also done well at ball security, averaging just 9.5 turnovers per game, which ranks fifth nationally. The Tigers have been efficient shooting beyond the 3-point line this year with a 40.4 percent success rate, which ranks seventh nationally.Emporia State enters this contest on a three-game slide, which includes a non-conference loss to Rockhurst before falling at home to Central Missouri and Washburn. ESU's last win was back on December 17 against Sterling College. The Hornets' lone MIAA win was a 74-72 result at Missouri Western back on December 7. Malik Edwards Jr. leads the Hornets in scoring at 13.3 points per game. The Hornets are in their first year under head coach Tom Billeter, who coached at Augustana University (S.D.) for 21 years from 2003-2024 and North Dakota State for five years from 1992-97.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀🎧 LISTEN: Tigers face Hornets to begin 3-game homestand Thursday

#7/#14 Fort Hays State (12-1, 3-1 MIAA) vs. Emporia State (7-6, 2-2 MIAA) Thursday, January 9, 2025 • 5:30 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum Game Sponsor:&nbsp;Buff Car Wash National Anthem:&nbsp;Colby High School Choir Promotions:&nbsp;Fans 55+ can purchase a general admission ticket for only $5

Radio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a>| Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The seventh-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens a three-game homestand Thursday when the Tigers host in-state rival Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Tigers (12-1, 3-1 MIAA) will look to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the season last Saturday, falling 67-66 at Missouri Western. Emporia State (7-6, 2-2) is also coming off a loss in its most recent contest, losing 64-61 at home against Washburn.

The Tigers average 19.2 assists per game, second-most in Division II. FHSU also ranks in the top 10 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (1.32, fifth), field goal percentage defense (33.5 percent, sixth), scoring margin (plus-20.2, sixth), defensive rebounds per game (30.6, eighth) and winning percentage (92.3 percent, eighth).

Brooke Loewe&nbsp;dished out 12 assists on Saturday against Missouri Western, one off the program's single-game record and two behind this year's DII single-game leader. The junior is averaging 6.6 assists per contest, tops in the MIAA and fourth-best in Division II.

The Tigers have won seven straight games on January 9, with the last loss coming 21 years ago at Fort Lewis in 2004 (84-64).

Fort Hays State has more wins without a loss (12) as the seventh-ranked team in the country than any other spot in the poll. Next-closest is No. 11 where they are 7-0.

The Tigers have trailed for 43:17 in 525 minutes of action (8.2 percent) across 13 games this season. FHSU hasn't trailed by more than five points and hasn't trailed for more than 13:20 in a single game.

Katie DeGarmo&nbsp;moved into second on the all-time scoring list at FHSU last Saturday, now with 1,933 career points to pass Kate Lehman. DeGarmo is also second on the all-time rebounding list with 1,060 career rebounds, just 49 boards behind Lehman.

DeGarmo saves some of her best games for the Lady Hornets, with the graduate student averaging a double-double in five career matchups with ESU. She averages 15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in those games, scoring in double figures all five times, scoring at least 20 points once and recording four double-doubles.

Megan Earney&nbsp;also averages in double figures when playing ESU, putting up 10.3 points per night in three contests after scoring 20 points in the most recent meeting on six made 3-pointers.

Olivia Hollenbeck has scored 1,619 points in her career as a Tiger, just 38 points away from moving into the top five on FHSU's all-time scoring list. The graduate student is leading the Tigers with an average of 16.7 points per game, fourth-most in the conference. She also leads the conference with 2.6 steals per night and ranks third with an average of 1.6 blocks per contest.

Emporia State leads the all-time series with the Tigers, 52-39. The Tigers hold a slim margin in home games, however, leading 23-20 in games played in Hays. The Tigers have dominated the series of late, winning each of the last four games, which is tied for its longest winning streak in series history, and eight of the last 11 meetings. FHSU has won seven of eight at home against the Lady Hornets over the last 10 seasons. The Tigers are 11-19 against Emporia State in regular season MIAA contests, making the Lady Hornets one of two teams (PSU 16-14) that holds a winning record against the Tigers in MIAA league games.

Emporia State heads to Hays with an overall record of 7-6, including a 2-2 mark in league action. The Lady Hornets are 1-2 in true road games this season. ESU had a three-game winning streak snapped in its most recent outing, a narrow 64-61 home loss to Washburn. The Lady Hornets rank third in the MIAA with an average of 7.4 made 3-pointers per game. They rank last in the league and 266th out of 290 DII programs in scoring defense, allowing 73.7 points per night. Katie Horyna ranks second in the conference with a team-best 17.4 points per game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736369597674.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU Athletics#7/#14 Fort Hays State (12-1, 3-1 MIAA) vs. Emporia State (7-6, 2-2 MIAA) Thursday, January 9, 2025 • 5:30 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum Game Sponsor:&nbsp;Buff Car Wash National Anthem:&nbsp;Colby High School Choir Promotions:&nbsp;Fans 55+ can purchase a general admission ticket for only $5Radio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a>| Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The seventh-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens a three-game homestand Thursday when the Tigers host in-state rival Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m.The Tigers (12-1, 3-1 MIAA) will look to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the season last Saturday, falling 67-66 at Missouri Western. Emporia State (7-6, 2-2) is also coming off a loss in its most recent contest, losing 64-61 at home against Washburn.The Tigers average 19.2 assists per game, second-most in Division II. FHSU also ranks in the top 10 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (1.32, fifth), field goal percentage defense (33.5 percent, sixth), scoring margin (plus-20.2, sixth), defensive rebounds per game (30.6, eighth) and winning percentage (92.3 percent, eighth).Brooke Loewe&nbsp;dished out 12 assists on Saturday against Missouri Western, one off the program's single-game record and two behind this year's DII single-game leader. The junior is averaging 6.6 assists per contest, tops in the MIAA and fourth-best in Division II.The Tigers have won seven straight games on January 9, with the last loss coming 21 years ago at Fort Lewis in 2004 (84-64).Fort Hays State has more wins without a loss (12) as the seventh-ranked team in the country than any other spot in the poll. Next-closest is No. 11 where they are 7-0.The Tigers have trailed for 43:17 in 525 minutes of action (8.2 percent) across 13 games this season. FHSU hasn't trailed by more than five points and hasn't trailed for more than 13:20 in a single game.Katie DeGarmo&nbsp;moved into second on the all-time scoring list at FHSU last Saturday, now with 1,933 career points to pass Kate Lehman. DeGarmo is also second on the all-time rebounding list with 1,060 career rebounds, just 49 boards behind Lehman.DeGarmo saves some of her best games for the Lady Hornets, with the graduate student averaging a double-double in five career matchups with ESU. She averages 15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in those games, scoring in double figures all five times, scoring at least 20 points once and recording four double-doubles.Megan Earney&nbsp;also averages in double figures when playing ESU, putting up 10.3 points per night in three contests after scoring 20 points in the most recent meeting on six made 3-pointers.Olivia Hollenbeck has scored 1,619 points in her career as a Tiger, just 38 points away from moving into the top five on FHSU's all-time scoring list. The graduate student is leading the Tigers with an average of 16.7 points per game, fourth-most in the conference. She also leads the conference with 2.6 steals per night and ranks third with an average of 1.6 blocks per contest.Emporia State leads the all-time series with the Tigers, 52-39. The Tigers hold a slim margin in home games, however, leading 23-20 in games played in Hays. The Tigers have dominated the series of late, winning each of the last four games, which is tied for its longest winning streak in series history, and eight of the last 11 meetings. FHSU has won seven of eight at home against the Lady Hornets over the last 10 seasons. The Tigers are 11-19 against Emporia State in regular season MIAA contests, making the Lady Hornets one of two teams (PSU 16-14) that holds a winning record against the Tigers in MIAA league games.Emporia State heads to Hays with an overall record of 7-6, including a 2-2 mark in league action. The Lady Hornets are 1-2 in true road games this season. ESU had a three-game winning streak snapped in its most recent outing, a narrow 64-61 home loss to Washburn. The Lady Hornets rank third in the MIAA with an average of 7.4 made 3-pointers per game. They rank last in the league and 266th out of 290 DII programs in scoring defense, allowing 73.7 points per night. Katie Horyna ranks second in the conference with a team-best 17.4 points per game.

🏀🎧 LISTEN: #7 FHSU women host Lady Hornets Thursday

Thursday, January 9
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Emporia State, 5:05pm

Friday, January 10
 KKQY: Smith Center
MWBKB at Ellis, 5:15 *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Emporia, 5:40pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Salina Sacred Heart, 5:40pm

Saturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30am

Thursday, January 9
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Emporia State, 5:05pmFriday, January 10
 KKQY: Smith Center
MWBKB at Ellis, 5:15 *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Emporia, 5:40pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Salina Sacred Heart, 5:40pmSaturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30amSunday,
1/12 none

🎧 Eagle Radio, Hull sports broadcast schedule

Fort Hays State men's basketball tries for a sixth-straight win when they play Missouri Western on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo.

Fort Hays State men's basketball tries for a sixth-straight win when they play Missouri Western on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind-MBB at Missouri Western State" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ne3ib-17a1bbe-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind-MBB at Missouri Western State

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Zeke Mayo scored 23 points and No. 11 Kansas held Arizona State to 13 in the second half of a 74-55 victory Wednesday night.

Hunter Dickinson added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Jayhawks (11-3, 2-1 Big 12), who started the second period with a 20-3 spurt that turned a six-point deficit into an 11-point lead at the second media timeout.

Kansas outscored the Sun Devils 38-13 after halftime.

Arizona State (10-4, 1-2) didn't score its 10th point of the half until 3:09 remained. ASU was led by Alston Mason with 19 points. BJ Freeman had 10, and Jayden Quaintance added nine points and 11 rebounds.

Arizona State: The Sun Devils clearly missed co-leading scorer Joson Sanon and his 13.5 points per game. Down a player, and with Freeman picking up his fourth foul with 12:32 left, they had trouble handling Kansas’ press for most of the second half.

Kansas: The Jayhawks lost their previous home game to West Virginia, but haven’t dropped consecutive home games since losing four straight in 1988-89 as part of a seven-game losing streak in Roy Williams’ first season as coach.

Kansas trailed 42-36 at halftime, but Dickinson took a pass from Dajuan Harris and threw down a thunderous dunk over Quaintance to tie the score early in the second half. Quaintance picked up the foul and Dickinson’s free throw gave Kansas its first lead since the 8:24 mark of the first half. It was part of an 11-0 run to start the period.

Arizona State, which shot 46.7% in the first half, including 5 of 13 from 3-point territory, shot just 21.7% in the second half, including 1 of 11 from long range.

Arizona State returns home Saturday to face Baylor, while Kansas visits Cincinnati.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736396111839.png" alt="Kansas athletics" />
 <figcaption>Kansas athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Zeke Mayo scored 23 points and No. 11 Kansas held Arizona State to 13 in the second half of a 74-55 victory Wednesday night.Hunter Dickinson added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Jayhawks (11-3, 2-1 Big 12), who started the second period with a 20-3 spurt that turned a six-point deficit into an 11-point lead at the second media timeout.Kansas outscored the Sun Devils 38-13 after halftime.Arizona State (10-4, 1-2) didn't score its 10th point of the half until 3:09 remained. ASU was led by Alston Mason with 19 points. BJ Freeman had 10, and Jayden Quaintance added nine points and 11 rebounds.<h2>Takeaways</h2>Arizona State: The Sun Devils clearly missed co-leading scorer Joson Sanon and his 13.5 points per game. Down a player, and with Freeman picking up his fourth foul with 12:32 left, they had trouble handling Kansas’ press for most of the second half.Kansas: The Jayhawks lost their previous home game to West Virginia, but haven’t dropped consecutive home games since losing four straight in 1988-89 as part of a seven-game losing streak in Roy Williams’ first season as coach.<h2>Key moment</h2>Kansas trailed 42-36 at halftime, but Dickinson took a pass from Dajuan Harris and threw down a thunderous dunk over Quaintance to tie the score early in the second half. Quaintance picked up the foul and Dickinson’s free throw gave Kansas its first lead since the 8:24 mark of the first half. It was part of an 11-0 run to start the period.<h2>Key stat</h2>Arizona State, which shot 46.7% in the first half, including 5 of 13 from 3-point territory, shot just 21.7% in the second half, including 1 of 11 from long range.<h2>Up next</h2>Arizona State returns home Saturday to face Baylor, while Kansas visits Cincinnati.

🏀 Kansas shuts down Arizona State in 2nd half to win 

We're joined by Fort Hays State women's basketball coach Talia Kahrs, men's wrestling coach Erik Wince and men's basketball coach Mark Johnson.

Tiger Talk airs Wednesday's at 12:15 p.m. on KAYS live from the Robbins Center on the Fort Hays State University campus.

We're joined by Fort Hays State women's basketball coach Talia Kahrs, men's wrestling coach Erik Wince and men's basketball coach Mark Johnson.Tiger Talk airs Wednesday's at 12:15 p.m. on KAYS live from the Robbins Center on the Fort Hays State University campus.<div><iframe title="Tiger Talk (January 8, 2025)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=pqwj3-17a0974-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: Tiger Talk (January 8, 2025)

Wednesday, January 8
 KAYS: Tiger Talk,
12:15pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. Arizona State, 6:30pm

Wednesday, January 8
 KAYS: Tiger Talk,
12:15pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. Arizona State, 6:30pmThursday, January 9
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Emporia State, 5:05pmFriday, January 10
 KKQY: Smith Center
MWBKB at Ellis, 5:15 *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Emporia, 5:40pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Salina Sacred Heart, 5:40pmSaturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30amSunday,
1/12 none

The third-ranked Fort Hays State women look to remain unbeaten when they take on Missouri Western State on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at the MWSU Fieldhouse on St. Joseph, Mo.

The third-ranked Fort Hays State women look to remain unbeaten when they take on Missouri Western State on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at the MWSU Fieldhouse on St. Joseph, Mo.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind-WBB at Missouri Western State (Jan. 4, 2025)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=sxm37-17a0327-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind-WBB at Missouri Western State

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL Alma, Neb. 71, Northern Valley 28 Arkansas City 41, Goddard 28 Berean Academy def. Sedgwick, forfeit Bluestem 37, Douglass 26 Cherryvale 68, Erie 30 Derby 67, Valley Center 36 Holcomb 46, Goodland 44 Holdrege, Neb. 54, Phillipsburg 47 Kapaun Mount Carmel 67, Wichita Northwest 15 Maize 31, Goddard-Eisenhower 29 Red Cloud, Neb. 62, Rock Hills 61, OT Scott City 59, Cimarron 50 South Gray 69, Sublette 13 Southwestern Hts. 73, Deerfield 9 Spearville 37, Meade 29 Wallace County 47, Wheatland-Grinnell 27 Wauneta-Palisade, Neb. 58, Cheylin 50 Woodward, Okla. 68, Liberal 58

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL Alma, Neb. 69, Northern Valley 27 Berean Academy def. Sedgwick, forfeit Bluestem 37, Douglass 26 Carl Junction, Mo. 55, Pittsburg 49 Chanute 69, Labette County 48 Derby 68, Valley Center 67 Erie 62, Cherryvale 36 Holcomb 59, Goodland 54 Holdrege, Neb. 103, Phillipsburg 51 Maize 60, Goddard-Eisenhower 31 Oakley 53, Oberlin-Decatur 46 Oswego 69, Marmaton Valley 46 Pratt 71, Kingman 18 Red Cloud, Neb. 59, Rock Hills 52 Scott City 53, Cimarron 28 South Gray 63, Sublette 59 Southwestern Hts. 68, Deerfield 34 Wauneta-Palisade, Neb. 65, Cheylin 35 Wichita Bishop Carroll 71, Wichita North 25 Wichita Heights 59, Wichita West 27 Wichita Northwest 45, Kapaun Mount Carmel 41 Woodward, Okla. 68, Liberal 58

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL Alma, Neb. 71, Northern Valley 28 Arkansas City 41, Goddard 28 Berean Academy def. Sedgwick, forfeit Bluestem 37, Douglass 26 Cherryvale 68, Erie 30 Derby 67, Valley Center 36 Holcomb 46, Goodland 44 Holdrege, Neb. 54, Phillipsburg 47 Kapaun Mount Carmel 67, Wichita Northwest 15 Maize 31, Goddard-Eisenhower 29 Red Cloud, Neb. 62, Rock Hills 61, OT Scott City 59, Cimarron 50 South Gray 69, Sublette 13 Southwestern Hts. 73, Deerfield 9 Spearville 37, Meade 29 Wallace County 47, Wheatland-Grinnell 27 Wauneta-Palisade, Neb. 58, Cheylin 50 Woodward, Okla. 68, Liberal 58BOYS PREP BASKETBALL Alma, Neb. 69, Northern Valley 27 Berean Academy def. Sedgwick, forfeit Bluestem 37, Douglass 26 Carl Junction, Mo. 55, Pittsburg 49 Chanute 69, Labette County 48 Derby 68, Valley Center 67 Erie 62, Cherryvale 36 Holcomb 59, Goodland 54 Holdrege, Neb. 103, Phillipsburg 51 Maize 60, Goddard-Eisenhower 31 Oakley 53, Oberlin-Decatur 46 Oswego 69, Marmaton Valley 46 Pratt 71, Kingman 18 Red Cloud, Neb. 59, Rock Hills 52 Scott City 53, Cimarron 28 South Gray 63, Sublette 59 Southwestern Hts. 68, Deerfield 34 Wauneta-Palisade, Neb. 65, Cheylin 35 Wichita Bishop Carroll 71, Wichita North 25 Wichita Heights 59, Wichita West 27 Wichita Northwest 45, Kapaun Mount Carmel 41 Woodward, Okla. 68, Liberal 58

🏀 Tuesday's prep scores

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Abou Ousmane scored 27 points and reserve Marchelus Avery scored 13 points and Oklahoma State took control late in the second half and went on to beat Kansas State 79-66 on Tuesday night.

Ousmane finished 11-for-15 shooting and Bryce Thompson added 10 points for the Cowboys (9-5, 1-2 Big 12), which ended their two-game losing streak. Oklahoma State shot 47.5% (28 for 59) including 43% (9 for 21) from 3-point range.

Coleman Hawkins scored 18 points for Kansas State. David N'Guessan added 12 points to go with 12 rebounds, and Max Jones scored 10 points for the Wildcats (7-7, 1-2) who have lost consecutive games and five of their last six.

With Oklahoma State up 23-22 with 5:30 before halftime, Thompson made a jump shot, Ousmane buried a 3-pointer and the Cowboys proceeded to outscore Kansas State 20-2 for a 43-24 halftime lead.

Oklahoma State led by double figures the entire second half. Avery's 3-pointer four minutes into the second half gave Oklahoma State its first 20-point lead at 50-30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736302103072.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Abou Ousmane scored 27 points and reserve Marchelus Avery scored 13 points and Oklahoma State took control late in the second half and went on to beat Kansas State 79-66 on Tuesday night.Ousmane finished 11-for-15 shooting and Bryce Thompson added 10 points for the Cowboys (9-5, 1-2 Big 12), which ended their two-game losing streak. Oklahoma State shot 47.5% (28 for 59) including 43% (9 for 21) from 3-point range.Coleman Hawkins scored 18 points for Kansas State. David N'Guessan added 12 points to go with 12 rebounds, and Max Jones scored 10 points for the Wildcats (7-7, 1-2) who have lost consecutive games and five of their last six.With Oklahoma State up 23-22 with 5:30 before halftime, Thompson made a jump shot, Ousmane buried a 3-pointer and the Cowboys proceeded to outscore Kansas State 20-2 for a 43-24 halftime lead.Oklahoma State led by double figures the entire second half. Avery's 3-pointer four minutes into the second half gave Oklahoma State its first 20-point lead at 50-30.

🏀 Ousmane scores 27 points to help Okla. State beat Kansas State

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball was listed among the receiving votes section of the latest NABC Top 25 Poll, released on Tuesday. Despite seeing their five-game win streak snapped this past Saturday at Missouri Western, another team receiving votes in the poll, the Tigers received four votes toward the poll this week.

Fort Hays State currently sits at 9-4 overall for the season and 2-2 in MIAA play. The Tigers jumped into the receiving votes section of the poll in the previous release back on December 31 following a win over nationally ranked MSU Denver, which still holds a national ranking this week.

Washburn remains strong as the MIAA's only Top 25 ranked team, still undefeated this season at 13-0. The Ichabods held steady at the No. 2 ranking in the NABC Poll, only behind 2023-24 national runner-up Nova Southeastern, which also remains unbeaten on the season and retained the No. 1 spot in the poll once again. Fort Hays State and Missouri Western are the only other two schools referenced in the poll among the receiving votes section. FHSU received four votes toward the poll and MWSU received one.

Fort Hays State will play just one game this week since Tuesday's contest with Nebraska-Kearney has been postponed to February 26 due to the lingering poor travel conditions in Kansas from the winter storm over the weekend. The Tigers host Emporia State on Thursday (Jan. 9) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736334620638.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsKANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball was listed among the receiving votes section of the latest NABC Top 25 Poll, released on Tuesday. Despite seeing their five-game win streak snapped this past Saturday at Missouri Western, another team receiving votes in the poll, the Tigers received four votes toward the poll this week.Fort Hays State currently sits at 9-4 overall for the season and 2-2 in MIAA play. The Tigers jumped into the receiving votes section of the poll in the previous release back on December 31 following a win over nationally ranked MSU Denver, which still holds a national ranking this week.Washburn remains strong as the MIAA's only Top 25 ranked team, still undefeated this season at 13-0. The Ichabods held steady at the No. 2 ranking in the NABC Poll, only behind 2023-24 national runner-up Nova Southeastern, which also remains unbeaten on the season and retained the No. 1 spot in the poll once again. Fort Hays State and Missouri Western are the only other two schools referenced in the poll among the receiving votes section. FHSU received four votes toward the poll and MWSU received one.Fort Hays State will play just one game this week since Tuesday's contest with Nebraska-Kearney has been postponed to February 26 due to the lingering poor travel conditions in Kansas from the winter storm over the weekend. The Tigers host Emporia State on Thursday (Jan. 9) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Tiger men continue to receive votes in NABC poll

After suffering its first loss of the season, the Fort Hays State women's basketball team slid down in both national polls released Tuesday. The Tigers now rank seventh in the WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll and sit 14th in the D2CSC National Media Poll.

<a href="https://wbca.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/07-010725-d2-poll.pdf">WBCA Coaches Poll (Jan. 7)</a> <a href="https://griffinathletics.com/sports/2025/1/6/24-25-d2csc-wbb-poll-week7.aspx">D2CSC Media Poll (Jan. 7)</a>

This is the second time the Tigers have been ranked seventh in the coaches poll this season, with the last occurrence&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/news/2024/12/3/womens-basketball-tigers-up-to-seventh-in-coaches-poll-t-14th-in-media-ranks.aspx">coming on December 3</a>. Coincidentally, FHSU was also ranked 14th in the media poll that week.

The Tigers, now 12-1 on the year, moved down four spots in the coaches poll this week and dipped 10 spots in the media ranks. Fort Hays State is still the top-ranked team in both the MIAA and the Central Region, with Pittsburg State sitting in 13th this week in the coaches poll. The Gorillas did manage to leap FHSU in the media ranks, moving to 12th.This is the eighth time the Tigers have been ranked No. 7 in the DII coaches poll. FHSU is a perfect 12-0 when playing as the seventh-ranked team in the country, including a pair of blowout conference wins this season over Central Missouri and Washburn.

The Tigers have now been mentioned in the coaches poll in 111 separate weekly releases, including 72 appearances in the top 10. FHSU is 169-44 when ranked and 118-25 when ranked in the top 10.After Tuesday's contest against Nebraska-Kearney was&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/news/2025/1/6/mens-basketball-tuesdays-basketball-games-postponed-to-feb-26.aspx">postponed to February 26</a>&nbsp;due to travel concerns, the Tigers will now return to action on Thursday when they host Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736285489213.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsAfter suffering its first loss of the season, the Fort Hays State women's basketball team slid down in both national polls released Tuesday. The Tigers now rank seventh in the WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll and sit 14th in the D2CSC National Media Poll.<a href="https://wbca.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/07-010725-d2-poll.pdf">WBCA Coaches Poll (Jan. 7)</a> <a href="https://griffinathletics.com/sports/2025/1/6/24-25-d2csc-wbb-poll-week7.aspx">D2CSC Media Poll (Jan. 7)</a>This is the second time the Tigers have been ranked seventh in the coaches poll this season, with the last occurrence&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/news/2024/12/3/womens-basketball-tigers-up-to-seventh-in-coaches-poll-t-14th-in-media-ranks.aspx">coming on December 3</a>. Coincidentally, FHSU was also ranked 14th in the media poll that week.The Tigers, now 12-1 on the year, moved down four spots in the coaches poll this week and dipped 10 spots in the media ranks. Fort Hays State is still the top-ranked team in both the MIAA and the Central Region, with Pittsburg State sitting in 13th this week in the coaches poll. The Gorillas did manage to leap FHSU in the media ranks, moving to 12th.This is the eighth time the Tigers have been ranked No. 7 in the DII coaches poll. FHSU is a perfect 12-0 when playing as the seventh-ranked team in the country, including a pair of blowout conference wins this season over Central Missouri and Washburn.The Tigers have now been mentioned in the coaches poll in 111 separate weekly releases, including 72 appearances in the top 10. FHSU is 169-44 when ranked and 118-25 when ranked in the top 10.After Tuesday's contest against Nebraska-Kearney was&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/news/2025/1/6/mens-basketball-tuesdays-basketball-games-postponed-to-feb-26.aspx">postponed to February 26</a>&nbsp;due to travel concerns, the Tigers will now return to action on Thursday when they host Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Tiger women drop to seventh in coaches poll; 14th in media rankings

The Kansas Basketball Coaches Association has released their first regular season rankings for 2025.

Despite a road win over state-ranked Manhattan before the Christmas break, the Hays High girls' drop two spots to No. 7 in Class 5A. Manhattan jumps two to No. 8 in Class 6A.

The Hoxie girls are ranked 7th in class 2A.

The Logan-Palco boys are ranked third and Otis-Bison ninth in 1A Division 2.

6A Girls 1. Blue Valley North 2. Wichita Heights 3. Washburn Rural 4. Derby 5. Olathe South 6. Shawnee Mission South 7. Shawnee Mission Northwest| 8. Manhattan 9. Blue Valley NW 10. Olathe North

5A Girls 1. Topeka Seaman 2. Andover 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 4. St. James&nbsp;Academy 5. DeSoto 6. Kansas City Piper 7. Hays 8. Bishop Carroll 8. Blue Valley SW 10. Maize South

4A Girls 1. Wellington 2. Bishop Miege 3. Topeka Hayden 4. Eudora 5. Clay Center 6. Labette County 7. Fort Scott 8. Baldwin 9. Buhler 10. Rock Creek

3A Girls 1. Hesston 2. Halstead 3. Haven 4. Colby 5. Silver Lake 6. Girard 7. Goodland 8. Osage City 9. Holcomb 10. Cheney

2A Girls&nbsp; 1. St. Mary’s Colgan&nbsp; 2. Eureka&nbsp; Hillsboro &nbsp; 3. Moundridge 4. Wichita County&nbsp; 5. Inman 6. Ellinwood 7. Hoxie&nbsp; 8.&nbsp; Berean Academy&nbsp; 9. Doniphan West&nbsp; 10. Hillsboro

1A Div. 1 Girls 1. Little River&nbsp; 2. Centralia&nbsp; 3. South Gray &nbsp; 4. Clifton Clyde&nbsp; 5. St. John - Hudson&nbsp; 6. Rawlins County&nbsp; 7. Central Plains&nbsp; 8. Madison-Hamilton&nbsp; 9. Troy 10. Olpe&nbsp;

1A Div. 2 Girls 1. Hanover 2. Wallace County 3. South Haven 4. Lebo 5. Marias des Cygnes 6. Hodgeman County 7. Hartford 8. Cheylin 9. Attica 10. Ingalls&nbsp;

6A Boys 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 2. Wichita Heights 3. Wichita Northwest 4. Olathe North 5.&nbsp; Shawnee Mission South 6. Mill Valley 7. Junction City 8. Blue Valley North 9. Derby 10. Blue Valley Northwest

5A Boys 1. Highland Park 2. Andover Central 3. Kansas City -Piper 4. Shawnee Heights 5. Kapaun Mt. Carmel 6.&nbsp; Valley Center 7. Topeka Seaman 8. St. Thomas Aquinas 9. Topeka West 10. Great Bend

4A Boys 1. Baldwin 2. Ottawa 3. McPherson 4. Rock Creek 5. Concordia 6. Atchison 7. Augusta 8. Abilene 9. Clay Center 10. Bishop Miege

3A Boys 1. Wichita Collegiate 2. Goodland 3. Hesston 4. Cheney 5. Haven 6. Lakin 7. Scott City 8. Wellsville 9. Burlington&nbsp; 10.&nbsp;Holcomb

2A Boys 1. Moundridge 2. Sterling 3. Ell-Saline 4. Salina-Sacred Heart 5. Rossville 6. Whitewater-Remington 7. Bennington 8. Pitt-Colgan 9. Berean Academy 10. Medicine Lodge

1A Div. 1 Boys 1. South Central 2. South Gray 3. Lawrence-Bishop Seabury 4. Oxford 5. Central Plains 6. Olpe 7. Macksville 8. Central Burden 9. Frankfort 10. Clifton-Clyde

1A Div. 2 Boys 1. Cunningham 2. Axtell 3. Logan-Palco 4. Elyria Christian 5. Weskan 6. Hodgeman Co 7. Hanover 8. Dighton 9. Otis-Bison 10. St. John’s Tipton

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712064660369.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostThe Kansas Basketball Coaches Association has released their first regular season rankings for 2025.Despite a road win over state-ranked Manhattan before the Christmas break, the Hays High girls' drop two spots to No. 7 in Class 5A. Manhattan jumps two to No. 8 in Class 6A.The Hoxie girls are ranked 7th in class 2A.The Logan-Palco boys are ranked third and Otis-Bison ninth in 1A Division 2.6A Girls 1. Blue Valley North 2. Wichita Heights 3. Washburn Rural 4. Derby 5. Olathe South 6. Shawnee Mission South 7. Shawnee Mission Northwest| 8. Manhattan 9. Blue Valley NW 10. Olathe North5A Girls 1. Topeka Seaman 2. Andover 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 4. St. James&nbsp;Academy 5. DeSoto 6. Kansas City Piper 7. Hays 8. Bishop Carroll 8. Blue Valley SW 10. Maize South4A Girls 1. Wellington 2. Bishop Miege 3. Topeka Hayden 4. Eudora 5. Clay Center 6. Labette County 7. Fort Scott 8. Baldwin 9. Buhler 10. Rock Creek3A Girls 1. Hesston 2. Halstead 3. Haven 4. Colby 5. Silver Lake 6. Girard 7. Goodland 8. Osage City 9. Holcomb 10. Cheney2A Girls&nbsp; 1. St. Mary’s Colgan&nbsp; 2. Eureka&nbsp; Hillsboro &nbsp; 3. Moundridge 4. Wichita County&nbsp; 5. Inman 6. Ellinwood 7. Hoxie&nbsp; 8.&nbsp; Berean Academy&nbsp; 9. Doniphan West&nbsp; 10. Hillsboro1A Div. 1 Girls 1. Little River&nbsp; 2. Centralia&nbsp; 3. South Gray &nbsp; 4. Clifton Clyde&nbsp; 5. St. John - Hudson&nbsp; 6. Rawlins County&nbsp; 7. Central Plains&nbsp; 8. Madison-Hamilton&nbsp; 9. Troy 10. Olpe&nbsp;1A Div. 2 Girls 1. Hanover 2. Wallace County 3. South Haven 4. Lebo 5. Marias des Cygnes 6. Hodgeman County 7. Hartford 8. Cheylin 9. Attica 10. Ingalls&nbsp;6A Boys 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 2. Wichita Heights 3. Wichita Northwest 4. Olathe North 5.&nbsp; Shawnee Mission South 6. Mill Valley 7. Junction City 8. Blue Valley North 9. Derby 10. Blue Valley Northwest5A Boys 1. Highland Park 2. Andover Central 3. Kansas City -Piper 4. Shawnee Heights 5. Kapaun Mt. Carmel 6.&nbsp; Valley Center 7. Topeka Seaman 8. St. Thomas Aquinas 9. Topeka West 10. Great Bend4A Boys 1. Baldwin 2. Ottawa 3. McPherson 4. Rock Creek 5. Concordia 6. Atchison 7. Augusta 8. Abilene 9. Clay Center 10. Bishop Miege3A Boys 1. Wichita Collegiate 2. Goodland 3. Hesston 4. Cheney 5. Haven 6. Lakin 7. Scott City 8. Wellsville 9. Burlington&nbsp; 10.&nbsp;Holcomb2A Boys 1. Moundridge 2. Sterling 3. Ell-Saline 4. Salina-Sacred Heart 5. Rossville 6. Whitewater-Remington 7. Bennington 8. Pitt-Colgan 9. Berean Academy 10. Medicine Lodge1A Div. 1 Boys 1. South Central 2. South Gray 3. Lawrence-Bishop Seabury 4. Oxford 5. Central Plains 6. Olpe 7. Macksville 8. Central Burden 9. Frankfort 10. Clifton-Clyde1A Div. 2 Boys 1. Cunningham 2. Axtell 3. Logan-Palco 4. Elyria Christian 5. Weskan 6. Hodgeman Co 7. Hanover 8. Dighton 9. Otis-Bison 10. St. John’s Tipton

🏀 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association rankings (Jan. 7)

INDIANAPOLIS – Fort Hays State was one of 22 institutions from NCAA Division II selected as a finalist for the 2025 Division II Award of Excellence, an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership. Four finalists were picked as at-large honorees for submitting a strong nomination not chosen as the finalist for their conference.

Fort Hays State was chosen for the Tigers for IDD Sports and Fitness Night. Fort Hays State student-athletes hosted the events for local Special Olympic athletes through a campus partnership with a Physical Activity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities class. Over 200 student-athletes, along with students from the class, provided instruction to over 60 Special Olympic athletes. The event aimed to foster inclusion and demonstrate the importance of movement and physical activity. Fort Hays State hosted an event for this in both the spring and fall of 2024.

Division II honors its members each year for conducting events that promote student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders within their communities or on their campuses. A committee of athletics administrators determined this year's finalists, and the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee selected the top three finalists, who will be announced at the Division II business session on Jan. 17 at the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Each finalist will receive $750. In addition, the winner will receive $3,000, the first runner-up will receive $1,750 and the second runner-up will receive $1,500. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.

Below is the list of finalists for the award.

Academy of Art (Pacific West Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;ART U Hoops With the Troops:&nbsp;Now in its fourth year, ART U Hoops With the Troops is a basketball clinic hosted by the Academy of Art men's and women's basketball teams in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and Marines during San Francisco Fleet Week, which celebrates America's sea services. The event, held on the USS Tripoli, involved over 160 inner-city youth and included a tour of the ship. The clinic exposed youth to the collegiate student-athlete experience, military life, basketball fundamentals and new career possibilities.

Alabama Huntsville (Gulf South Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Sleep in Heavenly Peace:&nbsp;On a day off during the season, Alabama Huntsville men's and women's basketball teams partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and local volunteers to build beds for local children in need. This was the second consecutive year the teams partnered with the organizations. Participants built a total of 33 beds, surpassing last year's total of 25.

American International (Northeast-10 Conference) - Home Run for the Hungry Campaign:&nbsp;The American International baseball team's annual Home Run for the Hungry campaign collected 4,000 pounds of food and $500 worth of diapers for a local pantry and Square One, which provides a range of family-friendly education and support services. Over seven years, the campaign has donated 15,900 pounds of food, making a significant impact on the greater Springfield, Massachusetts, area.

Arkansas-Monticello (Great American Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;SAAC Make-A-Wish text-a-thon:&nbsp; Arkansas-Monticello's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee partnered with Make-A-Wish Mid-South to raise $10,000 through a text-a-thon. Student-athletes sent texts to their contacts asking for $10 donations, and within 10 days, they surpassed their goal of $10,000. The funds will be used to grant a wish for a local child, with the wish day planned for February at a basketball game.

Augusta University (Peach Belt Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Education Day Games:&nbsp;Augusta University student-athletes hosted more than 4,500 fifth graders from the community for annual Education Day Games focused on community, learning and collegiate experiences. The events also included financial literacy education and interactive experiences. The goal was to expose students to college life and introduce them to life as student-athletes.

Caldwell (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Tunnel to Towers:&nbsp;The Caldwell Student-Athlete Advisory Committee presented a check for $1,525 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation during the annual Super Saturday Basketball Event. The funds were raised through a charity volleyball game involving 38 student-athletes who took on various roles such as players, announcers and officials. The event, attended by around 165 people, included food donations from local restaurants and faculty, with meal tickets sold to raise additional funds. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families and builds specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association&nbsp;-&nbsp;Student-Athlete Empowerment Program:&nbsp;The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Student-Athlete Empowerment Program is focused on developing student-athletes as leaders. Launched during the 2024 CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament in Baltimore, the program includes sessions on personal branding, financial fitness, career exploration and leading with impact. It was facilitated by representatives from the NCAA office of inclusion, U.S. Army, Wells Fargo, FBI and Wendy's. The program also featured community engagement activities, such as distributing shoes to those in need. It continued with the CIAA SAAC Summer Summit, which included workshops, panels and discussions on leadership, career readiness, mental health awareness and civic engagement.

Conference Carolinas&nbsp;-&nbsp;Leading the Way — Champions in Body, Mind, and Soul — SAAC Retreat:&nbsp;Conference Carolinas held its annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee retreat in Greeneville, South Carolina. It included a visit to the Boys &amp; Girls Club, a special dinner event that honored community impacts of campus SAACs, and leadership training sessions. The retreat aimed to develop student-athletes as leaders and included presentations on professional communication, networking and handling interviews. The event also inspired student-athletes to create events on their campuses to help Hurricane Helene victims and organize additional canned food drives.

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference&nbsp;-&nbsp;Play4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness Event:&nbsp;The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference hosted the Play4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness event across all campuses, uniting athletes, staff, students and community members to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer. Named in honor of the late basketball coach Kay Yow, this event celebrated resilience, community support and empowerment for those affected by breast cancer. Each campus held special activities and ceremonies, allowing fans and participants to engage in meaningful ways, from wearing pink gear to participating in halftime recognition ceremonies. The theme "United for a Cure" was central to each campus' approach, creating a visually unified atmosphere with pink decor, custom jerseys and commemorative banners. The event raised significant funds for breast cancer research and awareness initiatives through ticket proceeds, donations and merchandise sales.

Florida Southern (Sunshine State Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Light &amp; Life Park Relief:&nbsp;Florida Southern helped the Light &amp; Life Park senior community recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton. The athletics department logged 792 community engagement hours, assisting with cleanup, debris removal and repairs.

Fort Hays State (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)&nbsp;- Tigers for IDD Sports and Fitness Night:&nbsp;Fort Hays State student-athletes hosted an event for local Special Olympic athletes through a campus partnership with a Physical Activity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities class. Over 200 student-athletes, along with students from the class, provided instruction to over 60 Special Olympic athletes. The event aimed to foster inclusion and demonstrate the importance of movement and physical activity.

Gannon (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;PALS Camp:&nbsp;Gannon hosted its PALS Camp in collaboration with the Erie Police Athletic League, providing a chance for underserved youth to build connections with police officers through sports. The camp hosted more than 300 children and included various sporting events, social interactions and educational sessions. The camp aimed to reduce crime, promote positive character development and improve educational outcomes for children.

Mars Hill (South Atlantic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Hurricane Helene relief:&nbsp;Mars Hill student-athletes played a vital role in helping their campus and surrounding communities with relief efforts after Hurricane Helene. They provided over 200 combined hours of community engagement, including preparing meals, cleaning up from the storm and organizing supplies.

Missouri Southern State (At-large selection) - Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat:&nbsp;The Missouri Southern State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted its annual Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat campaign in October, collecting a record 8,618 nonperishable items for Soul's Harbor, a human services and homeless shelter. Student-athletes spent over 200 hours distributing flyers and collecting donations. The donations helped keep the pantry stocked well into the spring.

Molloy (At-large selection)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk:&nbsp; Molloy partnered with the Molloy Student Counseling Center and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to hold the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk. Over 100 student-athletes and dozens of other students and staff participated, raising $1,120 to support suicide prevention efforts. The event included resources and giveaways provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Montana State Billings (Great Northwest Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Game:&nbsp;The Montana State Billings men's and women's basketball teams partnered with the MSU Billings Native American Achievement Center to hold their first-ever Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Game. The event aimed to raise awareness and educate the community about the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Montana. The game included a halftime ceremony where participants walked silently carrying photos and mementos of those they wished to honor, and a performance by Native American artist Shakira Glenn. The event promoted community engagement and student-athlete development, fostering a deeper connection between the athletic department and the Native American Achievement Center.

Northwest Nazarene (At-large selection)&nbsp;- All-Abilities Clinics:&nbsp;Northwest Nazarene student-athletes hosted two all-abilities clinics, which served as both a community outreach and an at-home mission trip. Volunteers received education and training on interacting with individuals with intellectual disabilities and on adapted sports. The clinics featured various sports stations, including flag football, cornhole, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and a speed and agility course. Over 120 volunteers participated, assisting athletes throughout the day and ensuring a positive and inclusive environment. The event also included a breakout session for parents and families, where they discussed the challenges and joys of raising children with intellectual disabilities. The clinics aimed to foster inclusion, promote physical activity and provide valuable experience for student-athletes.

Oklahoma Baptist (At-large selection)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children:&nbsp;Oklahoma Baptist student-athletes worked with the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children to create relationships with the kids and raise money to renovate living spaces for single moms and their children. Over the summer, the athletics department donated over $3,000 to the organization and hosted a camp attended by 83 children that exposed them to various sports.

Roberts Wesleyan (East Coast Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Pirate Toy Fund:&nbsp;Roberts Wesleyan continued its support of the Pirate Toy Fund, which distributes toys year-round to children in need. Student-athletes contributed more than 300 community engagement hours at distribution events, toy drives and fundraising efforts like benefit games. Their collective efforts included setting up a new warehouse, sorting toys and raising awareness through social media campaigns. The Redhawks' contributions saved the Pirate Toy Fund over $12,000 in billable hours. They collected thousands of toys.

Rockhurst (Great Lakes Valley Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Mental health initiative:&nbsp;Rockhurst student-athletes, led by its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, launched a yearlong mental health awareness initiative that aimed to spread awareness about mental health stigmas and guide people toward resources. Each team had a mental health awareness game where players wore green accessories, the color of mental health awareness. The initiative included starting a chapter of Morgan's Message, which seeks to eliminate mental health stigma in athletics; forming partnerships with the counseling center, sports medicine and athletic performance departments; and creating educational sessions, a social media campaign and a mental health library in the weight room.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference - Crossover for Change:&nbsp;A group of Colorado School of Mines student-athletes raised money for Crossover for Change, whose mission is fostering confidence, empowerment and leadership for young women in Uganda through the sport of basketball. The student-athletes hosted local basketball camps and 5K races to contribute to the organization's efforts to build basketball courts, hold sports camps and conduct virtual sessions on confidence, nutrition and career goals.

San Francisco State (California Collegiate Athletic Association)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Building Connections:&nbsp;The San Francisco State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's primary goal focused on expanding community engagement efforts across athletics teams to support local groups and communities. The results included each athletics team contributing to the community through various events, charities and community engagement activities. These included youth sports clinics, charity walks for those with intellectual and development disabilities, food distribution for homeless shelters and trash cleanup on a beach.&nbsp;

Southwest Minnesota State (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Game Day Roundup:&nbsp;For the second year, Southwest Minnesota State has hosted Game Day Roundup, a community-focused pregame football event that includes inflatables for kids, food trucks, a live DJ, vendor tents and tailgating. It has enhanced relationships with local businesses and the community, creating an atmosphere that encourages Mustangs of all ages to be on campus for home football Saturdays.

Texas Woman's University (Lone Star Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Be the Match:&nbsp;Texas Woman's University student-athletes hosted a campuswide community engagement event in partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program, formerly known as Be the Match. The event aimed to register individuals as potential donors for patients with blood cancers and disorders. With the encouragement of Texas Woman's University student-athletes, 217 individuals registered, far surpassing the baseline goal of 100 registrants. The event included personal stories of experiences with transplants, inspiring participants and highlighting the impact of their contributions.

Walsh (Great Midwest Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;The Cavalier Commitment:&nbsp;Walsh student-athletes launched "The Cavalier Commitment" to appreciate and support sports officials. The initiative focused on creating a culture of appreciation, educating the community about officiating and forming partnerships with local high schools and the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Activities included writing thank you cards to officials, hosting educational sessions with officials like longtime NFL and NCAA official Gene Steratore, and promoting officiating through social media and community events.

West Virginia State (Mountain East Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament:&nbsp;West Virginia State has been leading community engagement through the Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament the past three years. The tournament promotes intergenerational interaction and active lifestyles, reinforcing West Virginia State's commitment to community involvement and athletic accessibility. The event, which was revived by the athletics department after being paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, attracted 245 participants across 30 events, with competitors ranging in age from 12 to 83.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736335578442.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsINDIANAPOLIS – Fort Hays State was one of 22 institutions from NCAA Division II selected as a finalist for the 2025 Division II Award of Excellence, an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership. Four finalists were picked as at-large honorees for submitting a strong nomination not chosen as the finalist for their conference.Fort Hays State was chosen for the Tigers for IDD Sports and Fitness Night. Fort Hays State student-athletes hosted the events for local Special Olympic athletes through a campus partnership with a Physical Activity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities class. Over 200 student-athletes, along with students from the class, provided instruction to over 60 Special Olympic athletes. The event aimed to foster inclusion and demonstrate the importance of movement and physical activity. Fort Hays State hosted an event for this in both the spring and fall of 2024.Division II honors its members each year for conducting events that promote student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders within their communities or on their campuses. A committee of athletics administrators determined this year's finalists, and the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee selected the top three finalists, who will be announced at the Division II business session on Jan. 17 at the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.Each finalist will receive $750. In addition, the winner will receive $3,000, the first runner-up will receive $1,750 and the second runner-up will receive $1,500. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.Below is the list of finalists for the award.Academy of Art (Pacific West Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;ART U Hoops With the Troops:&nbsp;Now in its fourth year, ART U Hoops With the Troops is a basketball clinic hosted by the Academy of Art men's and women's basketball teams in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and Marines during San Francisco Fleet Week, which celebrates America's sea services. The event, held on the USS Tripoli, involved over 160 inner-city youth and included a tour of the ship. The clinic exposed youth to the collegiate student-athlete experience, military life, basketball fundamentals and new career possibilities.Alabama Huntsville (Gulf South Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Sleep in Heavenly Peace:&nbsp;On a day off during the season, Alabama Huntsville men's and women's basketball teams partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and local volunteers to build beds for local children in need. This was the second consecutive year the teams partnered with the organizations. Participants built a total of 33 beds, surpassing last year's total of 25.American International (Northeast-10 Conference) - Home Run for the Hungry Campaign:&nbsp;The American International baseball team's annual Home Run for the Hungry campaign collected 4,000 pounds of food and $500 worth of diapers for a local pantry and Square One, which provides a range of family-friendly education and support services. Over seven years, the campaign has donated 15,900 pounds of food, making a significant impact on the greater Springfield, Massachusetts, area.Arkansas-Monticello (Great American Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;SAAC Make-A-Wish text-a-thon:&nbsp; Arkansas-Monticello's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee partnered with Make-A-Wish Mid-South to raise $10,000 through a text-a-thon. Student-athletes sent texts to their contacts asking for $10 donations, and within 10 days, they surpassed their goal of $10,000. The funds will be used to grant a wish for a local child, with the wish day planned for February at a basketball game.Augusta University (Peach Belt Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Education Day Games:&nbsp;Augusta University student-athletes hosted more than 4,500 fifth graders from the community for annual Education Day Games focused on community, learning and collegiate experiences. The events also included financial literacy education and interactive experiences. The goal was to expose students to college life and introduce them to life as student-athletes.Caldwell (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Tunnel to Towers:&nbsp;The Caldwell Student-Athlete Advisory Committee presented a check for $1,525 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation during the annual Super Saturday Basketball Event. The funds were raised through a charity volleyball game involving 38 student-athletes who took on various roles such as players, announcers and officials. The event, attended by around 165 people, included food donations from local restaurants and faculty, with meal tickets sold to raise additional funds. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families and builds specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association&nbsp;-&nbsp;Student-Athlete Empowerment Program:&nbsp;The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Student-Athlete Empowerment Program is focused on developing student-athletes as leaders. Launched during the 2024 CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament in Baltimore, the program includes sessions on personal branding, financial fitness, career exploration and leading with impact. It was facilitated by representatives from the NCAA office of inclusion, U.S. Army, Wells Fargo, FBI and Wendy's. The program also featured community engagement activities, such as distributing shoes to those in need. It continued with the CIAA SAAC Summer Summit, which included workshops, panels and discussions on leadership, career readiness, mental health awareness and civic engagement.Conference Carolinas&nbsp;-&nbsp;Leading the Way — Champions in Body, Mind, and Soul — SAAC Retreat:&nbsp;Conference Carolinas held its annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee retreat in Greeneville, South Carolina. It included a visit to the Boys &amp; Girls Club, a special dinner event that honored community impacts of campus SAACs, and leadership training sessions. The retreat aimed to develop student-athletes as leaders and included presentations on professional communication, networking and handling interviews. The event also inspired student-athletes to create events on their campuses to help Hurricane Helene victims and organize additional canned food drives.Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference&nbsp;-&nbsp;Play4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness Event:&nbsp;The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference hosted the Play4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness event across all campuses, uniting athletes, staff, students and community members to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer. Named in honor of the late basketball coach Kay Yow, this event celebrated resilience, community support and empowerment for those affected by breast cancer. Each campus held special activities and ceremonies, allowing fans and participants to engage in meaningful ways, from wearing pink gear to participating in halftime recognition ceremonies. The theme "United for a Cure" was central to each campus' approach, creating a visually unified atmosphere with pink decor, custom jerseys and commemorative banners. The event raised significant funds for breast cancer research and awareness initiatives through ticket proceeds, donations and merchandise sales.Florida Southern (Sunshine State Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Light &amp; Life Park Relief:&nbsp;Florida Southern helped the Light &amp; Life Park senior community recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton. The athletics department logged 792 community engagement hours, assisting with cleanup, debris removal and repairs.Fort Hays State (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)&nbsp;- Tigers for IDD Sports and Fitness Night:&nbsp;Fort Hays State student-athletes hosted an event for local Special Olympic athletes through a campus partnership with a Physical Activity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities class. Over 200 student-athletes, along with students from the class, provided instruction to over 60 Special Olympic athletes. The event aimed to foster inclusion and demonstrate the importance of movement and physical activity.Gannon (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;PALS Camp:&nbsp;Gannon hosted its PALS Camp in collaboration with the Erie Police Athletic League, providing a chance for underserved youth to build connections with police officers through sports. The camp hosted more than 300 children and included various sporting events, social interactions and educational sessions. The camp aimed to reduce crime, promote positive character development and improve educational outcomes for children.Mars Hill (South Atlantic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Hurricane Helene relief:&nbsp;Mars Hill student-athletes played a vital role in helping their campus and surrounding communities with relief efforts after Hurricane Helene. They provided over 200 combined hours of community engagement, including preparing meals, cleaning up from the storm and organizing supplies.Missouri Southern State (At-large selection) - Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat:&nbsp;The Missouri Southern State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted its annual Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat campaign in October, collecting a record 8,618 nonperishable items for Soul's Harbor, a human services and homeless shelter. Student-athletes spent over 200 hours distributing flyers and collecting donations. The donations helped keep the pantry stocked well into the spring.Molloy (At-large selection)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk:&nbsp; Molloy partnered with the Molloy Student Counseling Center and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to hold the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk. Over 100 student-athletes and dozens of other students and staff participated, raising $1,120 to support suicide prevention efforts. The event included resources and giveaways provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.Montana State Billings (Great Northwest Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Game:&nbsp;The Montana State Billings men's and women's basketball teams partnered with the MSU Billings Native American Achievement Center to hold their first-ever Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Game. The event aimed to raise awareness and educate the community about the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Montana. The game included a halftime ceremony where participants walked silently carrying photos and mementos of those they wished to honor, and a performance by Native American artist Shakira Glenn. The event promoted community engagement and student-athlete development, fostering a deeper connection between the athletic department and the Native American Achievement Center.Northwest Nazarene (At-large selection)&nbsp;- All-Abilities Clinics:&nbsp;Northwest Nazarene student-athletes hosted two all-abilities clinics, which served as both a community outreach and an at-home mission trip. Volunteers received education and training on interacting with individuals with intellectual disabilities and on adapted sports. The clinics featured various sports stations, including flag football, cornhole, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and a speed and agility course. Over 120 volunteers participated, assisting athletes throughout the day and ensuring a positive and inclusive environment. The event also included a breakout session for parents and families, where they discussed the challenges and joys of raising children with intellectual disabilities. The clinics aimed to foster inclusion, promote physical activity and provide valuable experience for student-athletes.Oklahoma Baptist (At-large selection)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children:&nbsp;Oklahoma Baptist student-athletes worked with the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children to create relationships with the kids and raise money to renovate living spaces for single moms and their children. Over the summer, the athletics department donated over $3,000 to the organization and hosted a camp attended by 83 children that exposed them to various sports.Roberts Wesleyan (East Coast Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Pirate Toy Fund:&nbsp;Roberts Wesleyan continued its support of the Pirate Toy Fund, which distributes toys year-round to children in need. Student-athletes contributed more than 300 community engagement hours at distribution events, toy drives and fundraising efforts like benefit games. Their collective efforts included setting up a new warehouse, sorting toys and raising awareness through social media campaigns. The Redhawks' contributions saved the Pirate Toy Fund over $12,000 in billable hours. They collected thousands of toys.Rockhurst (Great Lakes Valley Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Mental health initiative:&nbsp;Rockhurst student-athletes, led by its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, launched a yearlong mental health awareness initiative that aimed to spread awareness about mental health stigmas and guide people toward resources. Each team had a mental health awareness game where players wore green accessories, the color of mental health awareness. The initiative included starting a chapter of Morgan's Message, which seeks to eliminate mental health stigma in athletics; forming partnerships with the counseling center, sports medicine and athletic performance departments; and creating educational sessions, a social media campaign and a mental health library in the weight room.Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference - Crossover for Change:&nbsp;A group of Colorado School of Mines student-athletes raised money for Crossover for Change, whose mission is fostering confidence, empowerment and leadership for young women in Uganda through the sport of basketball. The student-athletes hosted local basketball camps and 5K races to contribute to the organization's efforts to build basketball courts, hold sports camps and conduct virtual sessions on confidence, nutrition and career goals.San Francisco State (California Collegiate Athletic Association)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Building Connections:&nbsp;The San Francisco State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's primary goal focused on expanding community engagement efforts across athletics teams to support local groups and communities. The results included each athletics team contributing to the community through various events, charities and community engagement activities. These included youth sports clinics, charity walks for those with intellectual and development disabilities, food distribution for homeless shelters and trash cleanup on a beach.&nbsp;Southwest Minnesota State (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Game Day Roundup:&nbsp;For the second year, Southwest Minnesota State has hosted Game Day Roundup, a community-focused pregame football event that includes inflatables for kids, food trucks, a live DJ, vendor tents and tailgating. It has enhanced relationships with local businesses and the community, creating an atmosphere that encourages Mustangs of all ages to be on campus for home football Saturdays.Texas Woman's University (Lone Star Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Be the Match:&nbsp;Texas Woman's University student-athletes hosted a campuswide community engagement event in partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program, formerly known as Be the Match. The event aimed to register individuals as potential donors for patients with blood cancers and disorders. With the encouragement of Texas Woman's University student-athletes, 217 individuals registered, far surpassing the baseline goal of 100 registrants. The event included personal stories of experiences with transplants, inspiring participants and highlighting the impact of their contributions.Walsh (Great Midwest Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;The Cavalier Commitment:&nbsp;Walsh student-athletes launched "The Cavalier Commitment" to appreciate and support sports officials. The initiative focused on creating a culture of appreciation, educating the community about officiating and forming partnerships with local high schools and the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Activities included writing thank you cards to officials, hosting educational sessions with officials like longtime NFL and NCAA official Gene Steratore, and promoting officiating through social media and community events.West Virginia State (Mountain East Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament:&nbsp;West Virginia State has been leading community engagement through the Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament the past three years. The tournament promotes intergenerational interaction and active lifestyles, reinforcing West Virginia State's commitment to community involvement and athletic accessibility. The event, which was revived by the athletics department after being paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, attracted 245 participants across 30 events, with competitors ranging in age from 12 to 83.

Fort Hays State finalist for NCAA Division II Award of Excellence

Tuesday, January 7
 noneWednesday, January 8
 KAYS: Tiger Talk,
12:15pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. Arizona State, 6:30pmThursday, January 9
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Emporia State, 5:05pmFriday, January 10
 KKQY: Smith Center
MWBKB at Ellis, 5:15 *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Emporia, 5:40pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Salina Sacred Heart, 5:40pmSaturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30amSunday,
1/12 none

The Fort Hays State men look for their first win over NW Missouri State in Maryville since 2013 when they take on the Bearcats on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Bearcat Arena.

The Fort Hays State men look for their first win over NW Missouri State in Maryville since 2013 when they take on the Bearcats on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Bearcat Arena.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind-MBB at NW Missouri State (Jan. 2, 2025)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=9x3x8-17a030d-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind-MBB at NW Missouri State

HAYS, Kan. - The men's and women's basketball contests between Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney originally scheduled for Tuesday have been postponed to Wednesday, February 26 due to continuing travel concerns created by Winter Storm Blair.

Tip times will remain as scheduled, with the women opening the evening at 5:30 p.m. and the men to follow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets dated January 7 will still be accepted on the new game day.

The Tigers are now scheduled to return to action on Thursday when they host Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m. for the women and 7:30 p.m. for the men.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736181655719.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. - The men's and women's basketball contests between Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney originally scheduled for Tuesday have been postponed to Wednesday, February 26 due to continuing travel concerns created by Winter Storm Blair.Tip times will remain as scheduled, with the women opening the evening at 5:30 p.m. and the men to follow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets dated January 7 will still be accepted on the new game day.The Tigers are now scheduled to return to action on Thursday when they host Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m. for the women and 7:30 p.m. for the men.

🏀 Tuesday's FHSU games postponed to Feb. 26

Monday, January 6
 KAYS: Hawk Talk with
Bill Self, 6pm

Tuesday, January 7
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Nebraska-Kearney, 5:05pm
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB vs. Wichita Independent, 5:40pm
 KKQY: Quinter MWBKB at Hill City, approx. 5:45pm

Monday, January 6
 KAYS: Hawk Talk with
Bill Self, 6pm Tuesday, January 7
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Nebraska-Kearney, 5:05pm
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB vs. Wichita Independent, 5:40pm
 KKQY: Quinter MWBKB at Hill City, approx. 5:45pmWednesday, January 8
 KAYS: Tiger Talk,
12:15pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. Arizona State, 6:30pmThursday, January 9
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Emporia State, 5:05pmFriday, January 10
 KKQY: Smith Center
MWBKB at Ellis, 5:15 *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Emporia, 5:40pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Salina Sacred Heart, 5:40pmSaturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30amSunday,
1/12 none

The 3rd-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens 2025 against Northwest Missouri State on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Bearcat Arena in Maryville,&nbsp; Mo.

The 3rd-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens 2025 against Northwest Missouri State on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Bearcat Arena in Maryville,&nbsp; Mo.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind: WBB at NW Missouri State (Jan. 2, 2024)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=2jatk-1799d67-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind-WBB at NW Missouri State

DENVER (AP) — Rookie Bo Nix set a franchise record by completing his first 18 passes and the Denver Broncos ended an eight-year playoff drought Sunday with a 38-0 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs' bevy of backups.

The Broncos (10-7) snapped a two-game skid and buried nearly a decade’s worth of futility and frustrations by returing to the postseason party for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

They'll visit Buffalo (13-4) in the wild-card round next weekend after handing the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (15-2) their first shutout since Dec. 16, 2012, at Oakland.

Having already secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and sole first-round bye in their quest for an unprecedented three-peat, Chiefs coach Andy Reid sat Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and a host of other starters.

Carson Wentz got the start at quarterback and fizzled in his first extended action since Week 18 with the Rams last season. He was 10 of 17 for 98 yards and was sacked four times by the league's best pass rush (62 sacks).

Nix threw for four touchdowns, giving him 29 for the season, second-most by a rookie in NFL history, behind only Justin Herbert's 31 in 2020.

He finished 26 of 29 for 321 yards, and his 18 consecutive completions also were the most ever by a Broncos QB. Nix hit Marvin Mims twice, Courtland Sutton (five times for 98 yards) and Devaughn Vele for scores.

Vele's TD was intended for Adam Trautman but ricocheted off cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson (twice) and Keith Taylor before&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1876031097215009092">Vele cradled the catch</a>&nbsp;just before tumbling out of the back of the end zone, giving Nix 17 consecutive completions at that point and extending Denver's lead to 21-0.

That wild conclusion capped an 18-play, 89-yard drive that lasted more than 11 minutes, keeping Wentz cooling his cleats on the sideline next to Mahomes, who was decked out in a white hoodie.

After Harrison Butker was wide left on a 51-yard field goal — his first miss in 18 tries at Empower Field at Mile High — Wil Lutz gave Denver a 24-0 halftime lead by nailing a 33-yarder with 3 seconds left.

The Broncos made it 31-0 on Mims' second TD catch late in the third quarter and Audric Estime punched it in from the 1 in the fourth quarter.

The Chiefs won't play again until Jan. 18 or 19, meaning Mahomes, who last played on Christmas Day, and other stars who sat this one out will have at least 24 days between games.

The Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season. That’s the longest playoff drought for a team after raising the Lombardi Trophy.

The Broncos' clincher came 3,255 days after Von Miller led them to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 7, 2016, and their reward as the AFC's seventh and final seed is a trip to Buffalo next weekend to face Miller in the first round of the playoffs.

The Bills were the only other team to beat Kansas City this season, 30-21 in Week 11.

The Chiefs' loss ended their six-game win streak but eliminated the prospect of them having to possibly face Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow at some point in the playoffs. The Bengals, who won their fifth consecutive game Saturday night at Pittsburgh, needed Denver to lose to have a chance to sneak into the playoffs at 9-8.

The Chiefs, who had won 17 of their previous 18 games against the Broncos, were planning on staying in Denver for the night because of a winter storm that also delayed their flight into Colorado for several hours Saturday.

Chiefs DB Chamarri Conner injured a shoulder in the first half and was ruled out at the start of the third quarter. Also sitting out for Kansas City were RB Isiah Pacheco (ribs), RT Jawaan Taylor (knee), CB Jaylen Watson (ankle), WR Mecole Hardman (knee), DE George Karlaftis, CB Trent McDuffie and DT Chris Jones (calf), among others.

The Broncos came out of the game healthy. WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey left briefly with an ankle injury in the first half but only missed a few snaps.

Chiefs: A first-round bye as they get healthy for the AFC divisional round Jan. 18-19.

Broncos: A visit next weekend to Buffalo for a wild-card game against the Bills.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736123443624.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — Rookie Bo Nix set a franchise record by completing his first 18 passes and the Denver Broncos ended an eight-year playoff drought Sunday with a 38-0 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs' bevy of backups.The Broncos (10-7) snapped a two-game skid and buried nearly a decade’s worth of futility and frustrations by returing to the postseason party for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.They'll visit Buffalo (13-4) in the wild-card round next weekend after handing the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (15-2) their first shutout since Dec. 16, 2012, at Oakland.Having already secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and sole first-round bye in their quest for an unprecedented three-peat, Chiefs coach Andy Reid sat Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and a host of other starters.Carson Wentz got the start at quarterback and fizzled in his first extended action since Week 18 with the Rams last season. He was 10 of 17 for 98 yards and was sacked four times by the league's best pass rush (62 sacks).Nix threw for four touchdowns, giving him 29 for the season, second-most by a rookie in NFL history, behind only Justin Herbert's 31 in 2020.He finished 26 of 29 for 321 yards, and his 18 consecutive completions also were the most ever by a Broncos QB. Nix hit Marvin Mims twice, Courtland Sutton (five times for 98 yards) and Devaughn Vele for scores.Vele's TD was intended for Adam Trautman but ricocheted off cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson (twice) and Keith Taylor before&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1876031097215009092">Vele cradled the catch</a>&nbsp;just before tumbling out of the back of the end zone, giving Nix 17 consecutive completions at that point and extending Denver's lead to 21-0.That wild conclusion capped an 18-play, 89-yard drive that lasted more than 11 minutes, keeping Wentz cooling his cleats on the sideline next to Mahomes, who was decked out in a white hoodie.After Harrison Butker was wide left on a 51-yard field goal — his first miss in 18 tries at Empower Field at Mile High — Wil Lutz gave Denver a 24-0 halftime lead by nailing a 33-yarder with 3 seconds left.The Broncos made it 31-0 on Mims' second TD catch late in the third quarter and Audric Estime punched it in from the 1 in the fourth quarter.The Chiefs won't play again until Jan. 18 or 19, meaning Mahomes, who last played on Christmas Day, and other stars who sat this one out will have at least 24 days between games.The Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season. That’s the longest playoff drought for a team after raising the Lombardi Trophy.The Broncos' clincher came 3,255 days after Von Miller led them to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 7, 2016, and their reward as the AFC's seventh and final seed is a trip to Buffalo next weekend to face Miller in the first round of the playoffs.The Bills were the only other team to beat Kansas City this season, 30-21 in Week 11.The Chiefs' loss ended their six-game win streak but eliminated the prospect of them having to possibly face Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow at some point in the playoffs. The Bengals, who won their fifth consecutive game Saturday night at Pittsburgh, needed Denver to lose to have a chance to sneak into the playoffs at 9-8.The Chiefs, who had won 17 of their previous 18 games against the Broncos, were planning on staying in Denver for the night because of a winter storm that also delayed their flight into Colorado for several hours Saturday.<h2>Injuries</h2>Chiefs DB Chamarri Conner injured a shoulder in the first half and was ruled out at the start of the third quarter. Also sitting out for Kansas City were RB Isiah Pacheco (ribs), RT Jawaan Taylor (knee), CB Jaylen Watson (ankle), WR Mecole Hardman (knee), DE George Karlaftis, CB Trent McDuffie and DT Chris Jones (calf), among others.The Broncos came out of the game healthy. WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey left briefly with an ankle injury in the first half but only missed a few snaps.<h2>Up next</h2>Chiefs: A first-round bye as they get healthy for the AFC divisional round Jan. 18-19.Broncos: A visit next weekend to Buffalo for a wild-card game against the Bills.___

🏈 Nix leads Broncos past Chiefs' reserves and into the playoffs

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half and No. 7 Kansas posted the second-largest margin of victory in program history Sunday, beating UCF 99-48 in a Big 12 matchup.

Dickinson, a 7-foot-2 senior center, shot 12 for 17 from the field and had nine rebounds while limiting UCF's Moustapha Thiam, a 7-2 freshman who was slowed by foul trouble, to four points.

Flory Bidunga had 12 points and five rebounds, Rylan Griffen scored 14 points and Dajuan Harris Jr. and AJ Storr each had 11 for the Jayhawks (10-3, 1-1).

Kansas went on a 23-8 run after Thiam's second foul in the first half and held UCF without a field goal for more than seven minutes. The Knights missed 11 straight shots during that run and made only three of their final 19 shots in the first half. UCF shot 20.6% in the game and was 7 for 30 from 3-point distance.

Keyshawn Hall had 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting as UCF (10-3, 1-1) suffered its worst home loss.

Kansas: Bounced back from a 62-61 loss to West Virginia in its Big 12 opener.

UCF: The Knights have plenty of length and athleticism, yet looked outclassed after an impressive win over Texas Tech in their conference opener.

UCF was down 30 midway through the second half when Kansas had some emphatic plays. Bidunga blocked a jumper and scored a runout dunk. After a steal on the next possession, Kansas got a 3-pointer from Griffen to make it a 77-38 lead with about eight minutes to play.

Kansas dominated the interior with 22 offensive rebounds and 37 second-chance points.

Both teams have Big 12 games Wednesday. Kansas hosts Arizona State and UCF welcomes Colorado.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736118300329.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half and No. 7 Kansas posted the second-largest margin of victory in program history Sunday, beating UCF 99-48 in a Big 12 matchup.Dickinson, a 7-foot-2 senior center, shot 12 for 17 from the field and had nine rebounds while limiting UCF's Moustapha Thiam, a 7-2 freshman who was slowed by foul trouble, to four points.Flory Bidunga had 12 points and five rebounds, Rylan Griffen scored 14 points and Dajuan Harris Jr. and AJ Storr each had 11 for the Jayhawks (10-3, 1-1).Kansas went on a 23-8 run after Thiam's second foul in the first half and held UCF without a field goal for more than seven minutes. The Knights missed 11 straight shots during that run and made only three of their final 19 shots in the first half. UCF shot 20.6% in the game and was 7 for 30 from 3-point distance.Keyshawn Hall had 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting as UCF (10-3, 1-1) suffered its worst home loss.<h2>Takeaways</h2>Kansas: Bounced back from a 62-61 loss to West Virginia in its Big 12 opener.UCF: The Knights have plenty of length and athleticism, yet looked outclassed after an impressive win over Texas Tech in their conference opener.<h2>Key moment</h2>UCF was down 30 midway through the second half when Kansas had some emphatic plays. Bidunga blocked a jumper and scored a runout dunk. After a steal on the next possession, Kansas got a 3-pointer from Griffen to make it a 77-38 lead with about eight minutes to play.<h2>Key stat</h2>Kansas dominated the interior with 22 offensive rebounds and 37 second-chance points.<h2>Up next</h2>Both teams have Big 12 games Wednesday. Kansas hosts Arizona State and UCF welcomes Colorado.

🏀 KU posts 2nd-largest margin of victory in program history in win over UCF

Sunday, January 5 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at UCF, 1:30pm KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, 2pm

Sunday, January 5 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at UCF, 1:30pm KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, 2pm

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Noah Reynolds scored 18 points and made the go-ahead basket during TCU's game-ending 7-0 run to defeat Kansas State 63-62 on Saturday.

<a href="https://x.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/1875681082202292581">Reynolds worked off the dribble from the left side to the right, ducked inside and hit a one-hander off the glass for the go-ahead basket with 12.8 seconds remaining.</a>

A 3-pointer from Max Jones gave the Wildcats a 62-56 lead near the 3-minute mark of the second half but the Wildcats did not score again. A tip-in by Vasean Allette and a 3 from Brendan Wenzel made it 62-61 with 1:17 left.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736032768028.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Noah Reynolds scored 18 points and made the go-ahead basket during TCU's game-ending 7-0 run to defeat Kansas State 63-62 on Saturday.<a href="https://x.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/1875681082202292581">Reynolds worked off the dribble from the left side to the right, ducked inside and hit a one-hander off the glass for the go-ahead basket with 12.8 seconds remaining.</a>A 3-pointer from Max Jones gave the Wildcats a 62-56 lead near the 3-minute mark of the second half but the Wildcats did not score again. A tip-in by Vasean Allette and a 3 from Brendan Wenzel made it 62-61 with 1:17 left.Coleman Hawkins missed in the paint for Kansas State, then blocked a layup at the other end. David N’Guessan rebounded, was fouled and missed the front end of the one-and-one with 24 seconds left. Reynolds then put the Horned Frogs ahead and K-State's Dug McDaniel was unable to finish a contested layup before time ran out during the battle for the rebound.Allette and Trazarien White each scored 14 points for TCU (8-5, 1-1 Big 12) and Ernest Udeh Jr. grabbed 12 rebounds.N’Guessan had 17 rebounds and scored 10 points for K-State (7-6, 1-1). McDaniel scored 12 points, Coleman Hawkins 11 and Brendan Hausen 10.TCU pushed its three-point halftime lead to six points early in the second half before Kansas State took the lead at 45-43 with 11 minutes remaining. The Wildcats held the lead for close to 11 minutes before Reynolds' game-winner.TCU improved to 8-0 at home and Kansas State's road losing streak reached 51 weeks and 11 games.TCU will play at No. 14 Houston for the first time since 2011 on Monday.