Fort Hays State tries for their first ever home win over the No. 1 ranked team in the country when they host Washburn on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan.

Fort Hays State tries for their first ever home win over the No. 1 ranked team in the country when they host Washburn on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind-MBB vs. #1 Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)" 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=uibq5-1a31c32-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind vs. #1 Washburn

The 5th-ranked Fort Hays State women look to avenge their only loss of the season when they host Washburn on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan.

The 5th-ranked Fort Hays State women look to avenge their only loss of the season when they host Washburn on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind-WBB vs. Washburn" 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=6zy9n-1a31c18-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind-WBB vs. Washburn

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)

Friday, January 30 KKQY: Hoxie MWBKB at Quinter, 5:00pm * KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Larned, 5:40pm KFIX: Hays High MWBKB vs. Great Bend, 5:40pm

Saturday, January 31 KJLS: Fort Hays State MWBKB vs. Central Missouri, 1:35pm KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. BYU, 2:00pm KHAZ: TMP-Marian MBKB vs. Plainville, approx. 2:10pm

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)Friday, January 30 KKQY: Hoxie MWBKB at Quinter, 5:00pm * KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Larned, 5:40pm KFIX: Hays High MWBKB vs. Great Bend, 5:40pmSaturday, January 31 KJLS: Fort Hays State MWBKB vs. Central Missouri, 1:35pm KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. BYU, 2:00pm KHAZ: TMP-Marian MBKB vs. Plainville, approx. 2:10pm Sunday, February 1 none

🎧 Eagle Radio, Hull sports broadcast schedule

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State had a golden opportunity to hand the No. 1 team in the nation its first loss of the season, but it was not to be as Washburn rallied in the final minute of regulation to force overtime. The Ichabods did enough to get past the Tigers in the extra period by a score of 81-73. Washburn moved to 21-0 overall and 11-0 in the MIAA, while the Tigers moved to 15-5 overall and 7-4 in the MIAA.

Much like the game in Topeka, free throws were a decisive factor in the game. The Tigers had their opportunity to close out the Ichabods with 13 seconds remaining, but a pair of misses at the free throw line left the door open. In a scramble to get a shot off, Dillon Claussen was fouled with 0.9 seconds remaining and buried a pair of charity tosses in front of a fever pitch crowd to force overtime. The Tigers nearly won the game as Muhamed Kante's 3-quarter court shot was just a bit deep, online off the backboard, but with just a little too much on it to go in.

After shooting 20 free throws in the first half, the Ichabods finished with 39 attempts in the game. The Tigers shot 30 free tosses. Washburn outscored FHSU 28-21 at the line.

Washburn held the lead for the majority of the first half. The Ichabods led by as many as 10 with 1:34 to go before the break. They eventually took an eight-point, 36-28 lead into halftime.

Down 10 with 16 minutes to go in regulation, the Tigers dug their claws in defensively to trigger an 11-0 run over about a three-minute span that put them in the lead for the first time since the 10:57 mark of the first half. A Kyle Grill fast-break dunk, the second basket in the run, electrified the crowd of over 3,000 and fueled the Tiger push. Jahvari Martino put the Tigers on top 46-45 with a 3-point field goal at the top of the key.

After a bucket by Washburn to go back up by one, the Tigers continued their hot run and used a 9-0 burst to lead by eight, capped on a 3-pointer by Juju Ramirez with 5:41 to go. It was part of a 20-2 run overall by the Tigers to go from 10 down to eight up. FHSU led by eight one more time on a corner 3-point field goal by Dan Mukuna. The Tigers then led by seven with 1:23 to go, but a Brady Christiansen 3-point field goal kept Washburn alive and within striking distance late. A key turnover and fast-break bucket by Washburn really tightened the game in the final 30 seconds, and the Ichabods went on to find a way to get the game level.

Fort Hays State briefly held the lead early in overtime and kept getting within one point of Washburn all the way until a Jack Bachelor 3-point field goal with 39 seconds remaining. It was too much for the Tigers to overcome as the Ichabods survived to keep their unblemished record intact.

Mukuna led the Tigers with 19 points, while Grill added 13 and Martino had 11. Mukuna pulled down nine rebounds and was a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line. Lucas Hammeke dished out five assists, while Kante had four and Grill had three. With the 69 total free throws shot between both teams in the game, FHSU had three players foul out, while WU had one foul out.

Christiansen led the Ichabods with 18 points, while Bachelor had 17, Bryson Smith had 16, and Jeremiah Jones had 14. Jones finished with a double-double, matching his scoring total in rebounds with 14.

Fort Hays State is the only team to hold Washburn under 40 percent shooting from the field this season, and its done it twice now despite the pair losses. The Ichabods came into the game as the national leader in field goal percentage.

The Tigers look to bounce back on Saturday (Jan. 31) as they now find themselves in a cluster of teams battling for second in the MIAA standings. They host Central Missouri (16-7, 7-4 MIAA), a team currently tied with FHSU in the standings, at 4 p.m. inside of Gross Memorial Coliseum.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769750753283.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State's Jahvari Martino (4) attempts a shot over Washburn's Brady Christiansen (1) in the second half of their game on Thursday, Januaryu 29, 2026 in Hays Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/GIllian Lynch)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Jahvari Martino (4) attempts a shot over Washburn's Brady Christiansen (1) in the second half of their game on Thursday, Januaryu 29, 2026 in Hays Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/GIllian Lynch)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State had a golden opportunity to hand the No. 1 team in the nation its first loss of the season, but it was not to be as Washburn rallied in the final minute of regulation to force overtime. The Ichabods did enough to get past the Tigers in the extra period by a score of 81-73. Washburn moved to 21-0 overall and 11-0 in the MIAA, while the Tigers moved to 15-5 overall and 7-4 in the MIAA.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2256868478&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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-814667509/1-29-26-fhsu-mbkb-coach" title="Mark Johnson Postgame vs. #1 Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Mark Johnson Postgame vs. #1 Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)</a></div></div>Much like the game in Topeka, free throws were a decisive factor in the game. The Tigers had their opportunity to close out the Ichabods with 13 seconds remaining, but a pair of misses at the free throw line left the door open. In a scramble to get a shot off, Dillon Claussen was fouled with 0.9 seconds remaining and buried a pair of charity tosses in front of a fever pitch crowd to force overtime. The Tigers nearly won the game as Muhamed Kante's 3-quarter court shot was just a bit deep, online off the backboard, but with just a little too much on it to go in.After shooting 20 free throws in the first half, the Ichabods finished with 39 attempts in the game. The Tigers shot 30 free tosses. Washburn outscored FHSU 28-21 at the line.Washburn held the lead for the majority of the first half. The Ichabods led by as many as 10 with 1:34 to go before the break. They eventually took an eight-point, 36-28 lead into halftime.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2256868553&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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-814667509/1-29-26-fhsu-mbkb-player" title="Muhamed Kante Postgame vs. #1 Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Muhamed Kante Postgame vs. #1 Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)</a></div></div>Down 10 with 16 minutes to go in regulation, the Tigers dug their claws in defensively to trigger an 11-0 run over about a three-minute span that put them in the lead for the first time since the 10:57 mark of the first half. A Kyle Grill fast-break dunk, the second basket in the run, electrified the crowd of over 3,000 and fueled the Tiger push. Jahvari Martino put the Tigers on top 46-45 with a 3-point field goal at the top of the key.After a bucket by Washburn to go back up by one, the Tigers continued their hot run and used a 9-0 burst to lead by eight, capped on a 3-pointer by Juju Ramirez with 5:41 to go. It was part of a 20-2 run overall by the Tigers to go from 10 down to eight up. FHSU led by eight one more time on a corner 3-point field goal by Dan Mukuna. The Tigers then led by seven with 1:23 to go, but a Brady Christiansen 3-point field goal kept Washburn alive and within striking distance late. A key turnover and fast-break bucket by Washburn really tightened the game in the final 30 seconds, and the Ichabods went on to find a way to get the game level.Fort Hays State briefly held the lead early in overtime and kept getting within one point of Washburn all the way until a Jack Bachelor 3-point field goal with 39 seconds remaining. It was too much for the Tigers to overcome as the Ichabods survived to keep their unblemished record intact.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2256869174&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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-814667509/1-29-26-fhsu-mbkb-highlights-v" title="Fort Hays State MBB Highlights vs. #1 Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State MBB Highlights vs. #1 Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)</a></div></div>Mukuna led the Tigers with 19 points, while Grill added 13 and Martino had 11. Mukuna pulled down nine rebounds and was a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line. Lucas Hammeke dished out five assists, while Kante had four and Grill had three. With the 69 total free throws shot between both teams in the game, FHSU had three players foul out, while WU had one foul out.Christiansen led the Ichabods with 18 points, while Bachelor had 17, Bryson Smith had 16, and Jeremiah Jones had 14. Jones finished with a double-double, matching his scoring total in rebounds with 14.Fort Hays State is the only team to hold Washburn under 40 percent shooting from the field this season, and its done it twice now despite the pair losses. The Ichabods came into the game as the national leader in field goal percentage.The Tigers look to bounce back on Saturday (Jan. 31) as they now find themselves in a cluster of teams battling for second in the MIAA standings. They host Central Missouri (16-7, 7-4 MIAA), a team currently tied with FHSU in the standings, at 4 p.m. inside of Gross Memorial Coliseum.

🏀 Tigers fall in overtime to No. 1 Washburn

BOYS Central Plains 62, LaCrosse 45 Russell 58, Ellis 40

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768839911264.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>GIRLS Central Plains 35, LaCrosse 31BOYS Central Plains 62, LaCrosse 45 Russell 58, Ellis 40

🏀 Area basketball scores - Thursday, January 29

HAYS, Kan. - The fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team came out on top in a defensive battle against Washburn, avenging its lone loss of the season with a 59-47 victory on Thursday. An impressive 3,065 fans packed Gross Memorial Coliseum, the second-largest attendance in Division II this season.

The win moves Fort Hays State to 19-1 overall and 10-1 in MIAA play and extends the Tigers' winning streak to 12 games, the sixth-longest active streak in Division II and tied for seventh-longest in team history.

Both teams struggled out of the gate, with each hitting just four field goals over the first 10 minutes. The Tigers hit 4-of-12 from the floor, while the FHSU defense limited Washburn to a shooting percentage of 21.1 percent in the frame (4-of-19).

The Ichabods (14-6, 7-4 MIAA) hit two of their first three shots to take a 4-2 lead before a traditional 3-point play from Talexa Weeter put the Tigers on top. FHSU later led by three before taking a 9-8 lead into the second period.

Offensive production improved for both sides over the next 10 minutes, with the lead changing hands six more times before halftime. Olivia Mortensen knocked down 4-of-5 shots in the period, contributing eight points. A 3-pointer from Ellie Stearns gave the Tigers a 22-20 lead with three minutes and change to go before halftime, but the Ichabods managed to tie things up at 24 at the break. It was the lowest scoring first half for the Tigers this season.

The tussle continued in the third quarter, with the teams trading buckets until Brooke Loewe scored four points in 30 seconds to put the Tigers up four. The Ichabods scored the next five points, taking a 33-32 lead with 3:36 remaining in the third.

Stearns answered with a layup on the other end to put the Tigers back on top before the defense took over once again, holding the Ichabods scoreless for the final three minutes to take a 36-33 lead into the fourth quarter.

Loewe opened the final frame with a 3-pointer to put the Tigers up six, the largest lead of the game up to that point for either side. Washburn made another push, however, going on a 10-4 run over the next five minutes to tie the score at 43 with 4:21 to go.

And that's when Weeter took over, hitting 6-of-7 from the floor and totaling 14 points in the final four minutes to allow the Tigers pull away. Her final basket pushed the lead as high as 15 with 21 seconds remaining before the Ichabods hit a 3-pointer to make the final margin 12 points.

The Tiger defense was equally as impressive down the stretch, forcing five-straight Ichabod misses until their long-range make in the waning seconds.

Weeter led all scorers with 25 points, adding six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. Loewe scored 15 points, one off her season high, while adding eight assists. Mortensen tallied 12 points and five rebounds, with Stearns adding five points, eight rebounds and a career-high two blocks.

All offensive production for the Tigers came from the starting lineup, with FHSU failing to score any bench points for the first time during Talia Kahrs' tenure.

The Ichabods outrebounded the Tigers by two, 39-37, including 18 offensive rebounds, but the FHSU defense limited the visitors to only 10 second-chance points.

The Tigers wrap up their homestand on Saturday, January 31 when they look to complete the season sweep against Central Missouri. Opening tip is set for 2 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769750313881.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State's Talexa Weeter (22) brings the ball up the floor against Washburn's Yibari Nwidadah (32) in the second half Thursday, January 29, 2026 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Talexa Weeter (22) brings the ball up the floor against Washburn's Yibari Nwidadah (32) in the second half Thursday, January 29, 2026 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. - The fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team came out on top in a defensive battle against Washburn, avenging its lone loss of the season with a 59-47 victory on Thursday. An impressive 3,065 fans packed Gross Memorial Coliseum, the second-largest attendance in Division II this season.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2256812336&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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-814667509/1-29-26-fhsu-wbkb-coach" title="Talia Kahrs Postgame vs. Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Talia Kahrs Postgame vs. Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)</a></div></div>The win moves Fort Hays State to 19-1 overall and 10-1 in MIAA play and extends the Tigers' winning streak to 12 games, the sixth-longest active streak in Division II and tied for seventh-longest in team history.Both teams struggled out of the gate, with each hitting just four field goals over the first 10 minutes. The Tigers hit 4-of-12 from the floor, while the FHSU defense limited Washburn to a shooting percentage of 21.1 percent in the frame (4-of-19).The Ichabods (14-6, 7-4 MIAA) hit two of their first three shots to take a 4-2 lead before a traditional 3-point play from Talexa Weeter put the Tigers on top. FHSU later led by three before taking a 9-8 lead into the second period.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2256813911&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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-814667509/1-29-26-fhsu-wbkb-player" title="Brooke Loewe Postgame vs. Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Brooke Loewe Postgame vs. Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)</a></div></div>Offensive production improved for both sides over the next 10 minutes, with the lead changing hands six more times before halftime. Olivia Mortensen knocked down 4-of-5 shots in the period, contributing eight points. A 3-pointer from Ellie Stearns gave the Tigers a 22-20 lead with three minutes and change to go before halftime, but the Ichabods managed to tie things up at 24 at the break. It was the lowest scoring first half for the Tigers this season.The tussle continued in the third quarter, with the teams trading buckets until Brooke Loewe scored four points in 30 seconds to put the Tigers up four. The Ichabods scored the next five points, taking a 33-32 lead with 3:36 remaining in the third.Stearns answered with a layup on the other end to put the Tigers back on top before the defense took over once again, holding the Ichabods scoreless for the final three minutes to take a 36-33 lead into the fourth quarter.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2256812159&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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-814667509/1-29-26-fhsu-wbkb-highlights-v" title="#5 Fort Hays State WBB Highlights vs. Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">#5 Fort Hays State WBB Highlights vs. Washburn (Jan. 29, 2026)</a></div></div>Loewe opened the final frame with a 3-pointer to put the Tigers up six, the largest lead of the game up to that point for either side. Washburn made another push, however, going on a 10-4 run over the next five minutes to tie the score at 43 with 4:21 to go.And that's when Weeter took over, hitting 6-of-7 from the floor and totaling 14 points in the final four minutes to allow the Tigers pull away. Her final basket pushed the lead as high as 15 with 21 seconds remaining before the Ichabods hit a 3-pointer to make the final margin 12 points.The Tiger defense was equally as impressive down the stretch, forcing five-straight Ichabod misses until their long-range make in the waning seconds.Weeter led all scorers with 25 points, adding six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. Loewe scored 15 points, one off her season high, while adding eight assists. Mortensen tallied 12 points and five rebounds, with Stearns adding five points, eight rebounds and a career-high two blocks.All offensive production for the Tigers came from the starting lineup, with FHSU failing to score any bench points for the first time during Talia Kahrs' tenure.The Ichabods outrebounded the Tigers by two, 39-37, including 18 offensive rebounds, but the FHSU defense limited the visitors to only 10 second-chance points.The Tigers wrap up their homestand on Saturday, January 31 when they look to complete the season sweep against Central Missouri. Opening tip is set for 2 p.m.

🏀 No. 5 Tigers avenge lone loss in defensive battle against Washburn

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas expects to have Darryn Peterson available Saturday when the No. 14 Jayhawks welcome A.J. Dybantsa and No. 13 BYU to Allen Fieldhouse for a showdown between two of the Big 12's best teams and two of the top freshmen in college basketball.

Peterson and Dybantsa are widely expected to join Duke star Cameron Boozer in going in the first three spots of the NBA draft in June. But the order is anybody's guess at this point, and it could hinge heavily on how the rest of the season goes.

Dybantsa leads the nation in scoring at 23.6 points per game. Peterson is averaging 21.6.

Peterson missed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-jayhawks-kansas-state-wildcats-889e3e1ba37face7617a12245f9afa94">last week's win over Kansas State</a>&nbsp;while dealing with an ankle he sprained in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-colorado-score-97f7c1e777b88508960c00cd2807565a">win over Colorado</a>. That was the latest malady for the 6-foot-5 guard, who also has dealt with hamstring and calf issues that have limited him to just 10 games.

“I anticipate him being ready to go,” Kansas coach Bill Self said before Thursday's practice.

Students have been camping inside Allen Fieldhouse since Monday to get the best seats for the highly anticipate game between the Jayhawks (15-5, 5-2) and Cougars (17-3, 5-2). Each of them are 2 1/2 games back of Big 12-leading Arizona and a game behind Houston and Texas Tech, meaning the loser is almost certainly eliminated from title contention.

The showdown between Peterson and Dybantsa has been eagerly anticipated all season.

They crossed paths twice on the AAU circuit last year with Peterson leading Prolific Prep to wins over Utah Prep both times. In the first, Peterson poured in 32 points with 10 rebounds and eight assists in a 76-70 victory. But it was the second game last February in Atlanta that has become legendary: Dybantasa scored 49 points with nine rebounds, only to be outdone by Peterson, who not only scored 58 points, grabbed seven rebounds and five assists, but also hit the winning 3-pointer in an 88-86 victory.

Yet as much as folks are looking forward to their head-to-head matchup, Self said, the reality is that Kansas is still playing BYU.

“We've made that point many times,” he said. “I'm sure they would say the same thing about us, too. The objective of the day is to win the game. And that's the only thing I'm thinking about, and that's all the players should be thinking about as well.”

It also will be the 1,000th men's game played at Allen Fieldhouse since it opened on March 1, 1955.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767791264458.jpeg" alt="Kansas guard Darryn Peterson (22) drives past TCU guard Jayden Pierre (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas guard Darryn Peterson (22) drives past TCU guard Jayden Pierre (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas expects to have Darryn Peterson available Saturday when the No. 14 Jayhawks welcome A.J. Dybantsa and No. 13 BYU to Allen Fieldhouse for a showdown between two of the Big 12's best teams and two of the top freshmen in college basketball.Peterson and Dybantsa are widely expected to join Duke star Cameron Boozer in going in the first three spots of the NBA draft in June. But the order is anybody's guess at this point, and it could hinge heavily on how the rest of the season goes.Dybantsa leads the nation in scoring at 23.6 points per game. Peterson is averaging 21.6.Peterson missed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-jayhawks-kansas-state-wildcats-889e3e1ba37face7617a12245f9afa94">last week's win over Kansas State</a>&nbsp;while dealing with an ankle he sprained in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-colorado-score-97f7c1e777b88508960c00cd2807565a">win over Colorado</a>. That was the latest malady for the 6-foot-5 guard, who also has dealt with hamstring and calf issues that have limited him to just 10 games.“I anticipate him being ready to go,” Kansas coach Bill Self said before Thursday's practice.Students have been camping inside Allen Fieldhouse since Monday to get the best seats for the highly anticipate game between the Jayhawks (15-5, 5-2) and Cougars (17-3, 5-2). Each of them are 2 1/2 games back of Big 12-leading Arizona and a game behind Houston and Texas Tech, meaning the loser is almost certainly eliminated from title contention.The showdown between Peterson and Dybantsa has been eagerly anticipated all season.They crossed paths twice on the AAU circuit last year with Peterson leading Prolific Prep to wins over Utah Prep both times. In the first, Peterson poured in 32 points with 10 rebounds and eight assists in a 76-70 victory. But it was the second game last February in Atlanta that has become legendary: Dybantasa scored 49 points with nine rebounds, only to be outdone by Peterson, who not only scored 58 points, grabbed seven rebounds and five assists, but also hit the winning 3-pointer in an 88-86 victory.Yet as much as folks are looking forward to their head-to-head matchup, Self said, the reality is that Kansas is still playing BYU.“We've made that point many times,” he said. “I'm sure they would say the same thing about us, too. The objective of the day is to win the game. And that's the only thing I'm thinking about, and that's all the players should be thinking about as well.”It also will be the 1,000th men's game played at Allen Fieldhouse since it opened on March 1, 1955.

🏀 No. 14 Kansas expects Darryn Peterson back for game against AJ Dybantsa and No. 13 BYU on Saturday

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Bo Nix insists he'll be the same dual-threat quarterback he was before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-bo-nix-broken-ankle-nfl-playoffs-b61840b6221f3ece7efb33814b00c6b4">breaking his right ankle</a>&nbsp;in the playoffs and missing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-patriots-afc-championship-score-2e0b3acddeda40325447cbbb577b45fb">AFC championship game</a>.

The Denver Broncos signal-caller said a simple misstep led to a clean break and required a straightforward fix.

He said the injury was “nothing that concerns me, nothing that scares me going forward like I'm injury-prone or anything. This is one of those just inconvenient football plays and I'm excited already to get back to work. I can't necessarily avoid anything in the future, but I feel really good that my body's going to be in good shape.”

Speaking on a conference call Wednesday, Nix said he was going to take some time off anyway after the season, so his recovery and rehab over the next several weeks won’t necessarily impede his offseason training.

Nix also clarified two things about his injury. He said it was independent of previous ankle issues he dealt with in high school and college; and he said what made his injury inevitable wasn't a predisposition — as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-bo-nix-ankle-28ddb4470f3b55706ff20b3c86aabf36">coach Sean Payton described it</a>&nbsp;a day earlier — but a developing stress fracture that gave way to a full break.

Durability has never been an issue with Nix.

“I'd probably say four years, probably over 60 games straight of me getting to play and not missing games,” Nix said. “So, I don't really worry about the durability. Honestly, with a simple break like this I'll feel as good as new, won't have any hiccups even getting back going with training.

“I was going to give myself some time off anyway and this sort of makes me take that time off work, won't be able to scratch the itch and get back out there too early,” Nix added. “This will slow me down, make sure I'm taking my rest. ... I'm still going to be running around.”

Indeed, Nix was cruising around team headquarters this week on his medical scooter so he could say his goodbyes to teammates and coaches.

Nix said the injury “won't affect my training, won't affect my season next year. If anything, it'll just allow me to go out there and play more free knowing hey, there's nothing you can do about” freak injuries.

Backup&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-stidham-nix-patriots-dobbins-a6d3b533c63bf31ab502d1fd84544f56">Jarrett Stidham</a>&nbsp;replaced Nix on Sunday and he committed a series of blunders, including a fumble at his own 12 that led to the Patriots' only touchdown and helped New England advance to the Super Bowl.

Sitting out the game “was terrible,” Nix said. “It was very helpless. Wasn’t much I could do about it. It’s tough to see when you go down, the show just keeps right on going. I think that’s the toughest part. ... It was a bummer. It was tough. It was a tough week.”

Nix watched the game from a suite at Empower Field at Mile High after returning from Birmingham, Alabama, where Dr. Norman E. Waldrop III, a foot and ankle specialist at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center, operated on his ankle.

He called the operation “a very quick procedure, very easy operation, just a simple bone break. Got that fixed up. Great surgeon. Great care. And just right back on my road to recovery, a typical bone break, four to six weeks, I’ll be back training.”

In his first public comments since getting hurt, Nix also said he didn't realize the extent of his injury right away. Before going for X-rays, he was celebrating Denver's 33-30 win on Wil Lutz's field goal to cap a drive fueled by Ja'Quan McMillian's interception of Josh Allen's deep pass.

Nix said he was crushed to learn his season was over.

“You go that long and you play that many games and you have that big of a season and then it kind of comes to and end abruptly like that, it stinks,” Nix said.

But, he added, “my sights are already on nest year and how I can be better and lead this team better and play better. I'm just excited for the offseason work and to get back to the physical part of training.”

Nix has led the Broncos to back-to-back playoff appearances and tied Russell Wilson's NFL record with 24 regular-season wins in his first two years.

His early success has made his position coach, former NFL QB Davis Webb, who just turned 31, a hot coaching candidate. Webb has interviewed for the Las Vegas Raiders' head coaching job. Should he stay in Denver, there's speculation he'll get a bigger role, maybe even taking over play-calling duties from Sean Payton, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-bo-nix-ankle-28ddb4470f3b55706ff20b3c86aabf36">fired his longtime right-hand man</a>&nbsp;and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi on Tuesday.

“Davis is a tremendous coach,” Nix said. “He really knows how to communicate with his players. ... I think highly of him. I know he's a really good football coach and I know he's got a lot in store for him in the future.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757897601333.png" alt="Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks with quarterback Bo Nix during the first half an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)" />
 <figcaption>Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks with quarterback Bo Nix during the first half an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)</figcaption>
 </figure>ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Bo Nix insists he'll be the same dual-threat quarterback he was before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-bo-nix-broken-ankle-nfl-playoffs-b61840b6221f3ece7efb33814b00c6b4">breaking his right ankle</a>&nbsp;in the playoffs and missing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-patriots-afc-championship-score-2e0b3acddeda40325447cbbb577b45fb">AFC championship game</a>.The Denver Broncos signal-caller said a simple misstep led to a clean break and required a straightforward fix.He said the injury was “nothing that concerns me, nothing that scares me going forward like I'm injury-prone or anything. This is one of those just inconvenient football plays and I'm excited already to get back to work. I can't necessarily avoid anything in the future, but I feel really good that my body's going to be in good shape.”Speaking on a conference call Wednesday, Nix said he was going to take some time off anyway after the season, so his recovery and rehab over the next several weeks won’t necessarily impede his offseason training.Nix also clarified two things about his injury. He said it was independent of previous ankle issues he dealt with in high school and college; and he said what made his injury inevitable wasn't a predisposition — as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-bo-nix-ankle-28ddb4470f3b55706ff20b3c86aabf36">coach Sean Payton described it</a>&nbsp;a day earlier — but a developing stress fracture that gave way to a full break.Durability has never been an issue with Nix.“I'd probably say four years, probably over 60 games straight of me getting to play and not missing games,” Nix said. “So, I don't really worry about the durability. Honestly, with a simple break like this I'll feel as good as new, won't have any hiccups even getting back going with training.“I was going to give myself some time off anyway and this sort of makes me take that time off work, won't be able to scratch the itch and get back out there too early,” Nix added. “This will slow me down, make sure I'm taking my rest. ... I'm still going to be running around.”Indeed, Nix was cruising around team headquarters this week on his medical scooter so he could say his goodbyes to teammates and coaches.Nix said the injury “won't affect my training, won't affect my season next year. If anything, it'll just allow me to go out there and play more free knowing hey, there's nothing you can do about” freak injuries.Backup&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-stidham-nix-patriots-dobbins-a6d3b533c63bf31ab502d1fd84544f56">Jarrett Stidham</a>&nbsp;replaced Nix on Sunday and he committed a series of blunders, including a fumble at his own 12 that led to the Patriots' only touchdown and helped New England advance to the Super Bowl.Sitting out the game “was terrible,” Nix said. “It was very helpless. Wasn’t much I could do about it. It’s tough to see when you go down, the show just keeps right on going. I think that’s the toughest part. ... It was a bummer. It was tough. It was a tough week.”Nix watched the game from a suite at Empower Field at Mile High after returning from Birmingham, Alabama, where Dr. Norman E. Waldrop III, a foot and ankle specialist at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center, operated on his ankle.He called the operation “a very quick procedure, very easy operation, just a simple bone break. Got that fixed up. Great surgeon. Great care. And just right back on my road to recovery, a typical bone break, four to six weeks, I’ll be back training.”In his first public comments since getting hurt, Nix also said he didn't realize the extent of his injury right away. Before going for X-rays, he was celebrating Denver's 33-30 win on Wil Lutz's field goal to cap a drive fueled by Ja'Quan McMillian's interception of Josh Allen's deep pass.Nix said he was crushed to learn his season was over.“You go that long and you play that many games and you have that big of a season and then it kind of comes to and end abruptly like that, it stinks,” Nix said.But, he added, “my sights are already on nest year and how I can be better and lead this team better and play better. I'm just excited for the offseason work and to get back to the physical part of training.”Nix has led the Broncos to back-to-back playoff appearances and tied Russell Wilson's NFL record with 24 regular-season wins in his first two years.His early success has made his position coach, former NFL QB Davis Webb, who just turned 31, a hot coaching candidate. Webb has interviewed for the Las Vegas Raiders' head coaching job. Should he stay in Denver, there's speculation he'll get a bigger role, maybe even taking over play-calling duties from Sean Payton, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-bo-nix-ankle-28ddb4470f3b55706ff20b3c86aabf36">fired his longtime right-hand man</a>&nbsp;and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi on Tuesday.“Davis is a tremendous coach,” Nix said. “He really knows how to communicate with his players. ... I think highly of him. I know he's a really good football coach and I know he's got a lot in store for him in the future.”

🏈 Broncos' Bo Nix says his broken ankle won't affect his offseason or hinder him once it heals

WINGATE, N.C. - After being named to the Preseason All-Central Region Team earlier in the week, Fort Hays State's Brandon Chavez has been named a NCBWA Preseason All-American, announced Thursday (Jan. 29) by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Chavez was listed on the third team as a relief pitcher. The junior was one of three relievers to earn preseason All-America honors from the NCBWA, with each team consisting of four starting pitchers and one reliever. He is the only MIAA pitcher to earn preseason All-America status and is one of four players in the conference to pick up the distinction this season.

A native of Laramie, Wyo., Chavez was a first team All-MIAA pick as a sophomore last season. The reliever ranked second in the league and 15th in DII with nine saves, tied for fifth most in team history. He's struck out 62 batters in 63.1 innings during his college career, making 33 appearances and two starts. Chavez limited opponents to a .246 batting average last season while ranking second on the team with a WHIP of 1.23.

Fort Hays State will open the 2026 season this weekend (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) with a three-game road series at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769771263225.png" alt="FHSU Athletics image" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics image</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsWINGATE, N.C. - After being named to the Preseason All-Central Region Team earlier in the week, Fort Hays State's Brandon Chavez has been named a NCBWA Preseason All-American, announced Thursday (Jan. 29) by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.Chavez was listed on the third team as a relief pitcher. The junior was one of three relievers to earn preseason All-America honors from the NCBWA, with each team consisting of four starting pitchers and one reliever. He is the only MIAA pitcher to earn preseason All-America status and is one of four players in the conference to pick up the distinction this season.A native of Laramie, Wyo., Chavez was a first team All-MIAA pick as a sophomore last season. The reliever ranked second in the league and 15th in DII with nine saves, tied for fifth most in team history. He's struck out 62 batters in 63.1 innings during his college career, making 33 appearances and two starts. Chavez limited opponents to a .246 batting average last season while ranking second on the team with a WHIP of 1.23.Fort Hays State will open the 2026 season this weekend (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) with a three-game road series at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

⚾ FHSU's Chavez named to preseason All-America team

(RV) Fort Hays State (15-4, 7-3 MIAA) vs. #1 Washburn (20-0, 10-0 MIAA) Thursday, January 29 • 7:30 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum

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>

Game Sponsor: High Plains Farm Credit National Anthem: Great Bend Choir Promotions: Student Night - Plenty of prizes for FHSU students in attendance

Fort Hays State prepares to take on the No. 1 team in the country on Thursday night when it plays host to Washburn. The Kansas Day matchup between Kansas schools features the top two teams in the MIAA standings, set to tipoff at 7:30 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. The Ichabods are still unbeaten this season, 20-0 overall and top the MIAA standings at 10-0, while the Tigers enter at 15-4 overall and 7-3 in the MIAA, currently in second place.

This will be the first time Fort Hays State hosts an NABC No. 1 ranked team at home in its NCAA Division II history. The Tigers have faced an NABC No. 1 six times prior in their D2 history, but all six were true away games. The most recent was against a No. 1 ranked Washburn team last season on January 30 in Topeka, which the Ichabods won 74-65. The Tigers' only win against an NABC No. 1 team was during the 2009-10 season when they knocked off Central Missouri 81-71 in Warrensburg. The Tigers were ranked No. 13 nationally in that meeting.

The Tigers are looking to snap a three-game losing string to the Ichabods, which started last season. This will be the fourth-straight meeting the Ichabods hold a top-3 ranking nationally in the NABC Poll when playing the Tigers. Last year, the Ichabods were ranked No. 3 in the meeting in Hays, winning 71-57, then won the aforementioned game where they were ranked No. 1 in Topeka. The Ichabods won the first meeting between the teams this season in Topeka while holding the No. 2 ranking and won 73-66. Fort Hays State's last win over Washburn was in 2023-24 in Hays by a score of 71-58. Washburn was a national semifinalist last year in the NCAA Tournament, while FHSU made the NCAA Tournament as well and fell in the opening round.

In Fort Hays State's last three wins over Washburn, the Tigers held the Ichabods inside of 60 points each time. However, Washburn has scored at least 70 points in its last nine wins against FHSU. The Tigers and Ichabods are two of the best defensive teams in the nation as FHSU ranks second nationally in scoring defense at 59.9 points per game allowed, while Washburn is seventh at 61.8 points per game. FHSU is just 0.1 points per game behind national leader Benedict, which allows 59.8 per game.

Fort Hays State will have a challenge to slow down the MIAA's top offense, as Washburn averages 89.2 points per game. The Ichabods own the best field goal percentage in the country at 52.8 percent. However, the Tigers limited the Ichabods to a season-low 37.9 percent in Topeka earlier this year. Washburn's 73 points in that game was also its lowest scoring output of the season.

Fort Hays State has the best 3-point field goal percentage defense in the nation, allowing just a 25 percent success rate beyond the arc. They have held opponents inside 30 percent in 15 of 19 contests this season. Washburn shot just 15.8 percent beyond the arc against FHSU at home earlier this year, also a season low.

Fort Hays State held a one-point lead at halftime and had a lead with eight minutes to go before Washburn eventually took the first meeting this season. The free-throw line was the difference in the game, where Washburn had a 12-point advantage, going 26-of-36 compared to FHSU's 14-of-17.

This will be the third game of a four-game homestand for the Tigers. They won the first two games last week over Rogers State and Central Oklahoma, both by five points. It took overtime to decide the game with Rogers State. Washburn is coming off wins over Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western at home last week.

Dan Mukuna continues to lead FHSU in scoring (18.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 rpg). Kyle Grill (13.6 ppg) and Jahvari Martino (11.5 ppg) also average double figures in scoring for the Tigers. Lucas Hammeke is the top assister for FHSU at 3.8 per game, and he led the Tigers in scoring in the first meeting against Washburn this season with a career-high 24 points.

Dillon Claussen leads Washburn at 16.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Jack Bachelor adds 14.8 points and 4.6 assists per game. Bryson Smith, who averages 10.2 points per game, led the Ichabods in the first meeting against FHSU this season with 22 points.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769632744782.png" alt="FHSU Athletics image" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics image</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU Athletics(RV) Fort Hays State (15-4, 7-3 MIAA) vs. #1 Washburn (20-0, 10-0 MIAA) Thursday, January 29 • 7:30 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial ColiseumRadio:&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>Game Sponsor: High Plains Farm Credit National Anthem: Great Bend Choir Promotions: Student Night - Plenty of prizes for FHSU students in attendanceFort Hays State prepares to take on the No. 1 team in the country on Thursday night when it plays host to Washburn. The Kansas Day matchup between Kansas schools features the top two teams in the MIAA standings, set to tipoff at 7:30 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. The Ichabods are still unbeaten this season, 20-0 overall and top the MIAA standings at 10-0, while the Tigers enter at 15-4 overall and 7-3 in the MIAA, currently in second place.This will be the first time Fort Hays State hosts an NABC No. 1 ranked team at home in its NCAA Division II history. The Tigers have faced an NABC No. 1 six times prior in their D2 history, but all six were true away games. The most recent was against a No. 1 ranked Washburn team last season on January 30 in Topeka, which the Ichabods won 74-65. The Tigers' only win against an NABC No. 1 team was during the 2009-10 season when they knocked off Central Missouri 81-71 in Warrensburg. The Tigers were ranked No. 13 nationally in that meeting.The Tigers are looking to snap a three-game losing string to the Ichabods, which started last season. This will be the fourth-straight meeting the Ichabods hold a top-3 ranking nationally in the NABC Poll when playing the Tigers. Last year, the Ichabods were ranked No. 3 in the meeting in Hays, winning 71-57, then won the aforementioned game where they were ranked No. 1 in Topeka. The Ichabods won the first meeting between the teams this season in Topeka while holding the No. 2 ranking and won 73-66. Fort Hays State's last win over Washburn was in 2023-24 in Hays by a score of 71-58. Washburn was a national semifinalist last year in the NCAA Tournament, while FHSU made the NCAA Tournament as well and fell in the opening round.In Fort Hays State's last three wins over Washburn, the Tigers held the Ichabods inside of 60 points each time. However, Washburn has scored at least 70 points in its last nine wins against FHSU. The Tigers and Ichabods are two of the best defensive teams in the nation as FHSU ranks second nationally in scoring defense at 59.9 points per game allowed, while Washburn is seventh at 61.8 points per game. FHSU is just 0.1 points per game behind national leader Benedict, which allows 59.8 per game.Fort Hays State will have a challenge to slow down the MIAA's top offense, as Washburn averages 89.2 points per game. The Ichabods own the best field goal percentage in the country at 52.8 percent. However, the Tigers limited the Ichabods to a season-low 37.9 percent in Topeka earlier this year. Washburn's 73 points in that game was also its lowest scoring output of the season.Fort Hays State has the best 3-point field goal percentage defense in the nation, allowing just a 25 percent success rate beyond the arc. They have held opponents inside 30 percent in 15 of 19 contests this season. Washburn shot just 15.8 percent beyond the arc against FHSU at home earlier this year, also a season low.Fort Hays State held a one-point lead at halftime and had a lead with eight minutes to go before Washburn eventually took the first meeting this season. The free-throw line was the difference in the game, where Washburn had a 12-point advantage, going 26-of-36 compared to FHSU's 14-of-17.This will be the third game of a four-game homestand for the Tigers. They won the first two games last week over Rogers State and Central Oklahoma, both by five points. It took overtime to decide the game with Rogers State. Washburn is coming off wins over Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western at home last week.Dan Mukuna continues to lead FHSU in scoring (18.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 rpg). Kyle Grill (13.6 ppg) and Jahvari Martino (11.5 ppg) also average double figures in scoring for the Tigers. Lucas Hammeke is the top assister for FHSU at 3.8 per game, and he led the Tigers in scoring in the first meeting against Washburn this season with a career-high 24 points.Dillon Claussen leads Washburn at 16.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Jack Bachelor adds 14.8 points and 4.6 assists per game. Bryson Smith, who averages 10.2 points per game, led the Ichabods in the first meeting against FHSU this season with 22 points.

🏀🎧 LISTEN: Tigers host top-ranked Ichabods Thursday

#5 Fort Hays State (18-1, 9-1 MIAA) vs. Washburn (14-5, 7-3 MIAA) Thursday, January 29, 2026 • 5:30 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum

Game Sponsor: High Plains Farm Credit National Anthem: FHSU Singers Promotions: FHSU Student Night - prizes given away to students all evening, FHSU Faculty/Staff Appreciation, Vision Dance performance at halftime

The fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will look to avenge its only loss of the season on Thursday (Jan. 29) when the Tigers host Washburn. First tip is slated for 5:30 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Quick Hits - The Tigers have won 11 games in a row, the ninth-longest active streak in DII. It is the 17th double-digit winning streak in program history. - With an average attendance of 1,832 fans per game, the Tigers once again lead Division II in attendance. - Fort Hays State has won 26 games when ranked fifth in the WBCA DII poll, more than any other spot. - Two wins this week would give the Tigers their first 10-0 month since January 2015. - The Tigers have won five in a row on January 29, with the last loss on this date coming in 1999. - Talexa Weeter became the 26th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points last Thursday. She needed 62 games to reach that threshold, second-fastest in team history (Annette Wiles - 57 gms, Shauna Porter - 65 gms). - FHSU leads the MIAA with 429 wins since joining the league 20 years ago (2006), two more than Emporia State. - The Tigers' 18-1 record is the third-best start in team history. The Tigers opened the 2018-19 season 32-1 and the 2014-15 season 22-1. - The Tigers have earned six MIAA Athlete of the Week honors this season. No other team has more than one. - Loewe averages 10.2 assists per game and is the only NCAA athlete, male or female, currently averaging in double figures in assists. Her 17 assists at UNK are the most across all divisions of NCAA WBB. - Talexa Weeter leads Division II and ranks second across all NCAA divisions with an average of 27.9 points per game. For context, the MIAA record for single season scoring average is 25.4 ppg (MSSU's Melissa Grider, 95-96).

20 Wins Now the Norm - Fort Hays State is two wins away from reaching the 20-win plateau for the 15th-consecutive season, extending the longest active streak of 20-win seasons in Division II. FHSU's streak is tied for the fifth-longest active streak of 20-win seasons across all NCAA Divisions. - FHSU reached the 20-win plateau just eight times over the first 42 years of the program before the current streak began in 2011-12, including no more than two consecutive 20-win campaigns during that time. - The next-best active streak of 20-win seasons in the MIAA is four (MWSU), while the next-best streak in DII is Drury with 12. - Only four DI programs have longer active stretches of 20-win seasons, including UConn (33), Baylor (25), Florida Gulf Coast (21) and Louisville (15). Fort Hays State's run of 14-straight 20-win seasons is tied with South Carolina and South Dakota State for sixth-best in all NCAA women's basketball.

National/MIAA Rankings - The Tigers lead the nation in assists per game (20.3) and defensive rebounds per game (32.4) while ranking second in assist/turnover ratio (1.27), fourth in field goal percentage (48.3 percent), fourth in fewest fouls per game (12.7), fifth in winning percentage (94.7 percent), 10th in 3-point percentage (36.6 percent), 15th in scoring offense (78.1) and 15th in scoring margin (plus-16.3). FHSU also leads the conference in each of those categories. - While the Tigers are first in the country in defensive rebounding, FHSU is last in the MIAA in offensive rebounding (9.2 per game). Overall the Tigers rank third in the league with an average of 41.5 rebounds per night. - Brooke Loewe's 10.2 assists per game are the most across all NCAA divisions. In fact, she is the only NCAA student-athlete, male or female, currently averaging in double figures in assists. - Talexa Weeter leads Division II and ranks second across all NCAA divisions with an average of 27.9 points per game. - Loewe's 17 assists against Nebraska-Kearney are the most in a game across all NCAA divisions of women's basketball this season and second-most across all divisions including men's basketball (Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Quion Williams had 18 assists vs. Champion Christian). - Loewe has recorded 14 or more assists five times this season. Only one other DII athlete has done so once (Brielle Minor, Cal Poly Pomona). - Weeter's 45 points against Northwest Missouri State are tied for second-most by a DII athlete this season. - Weeter ranks second in the MIAA in rebounds (9.1 per game) and third in the MIAA in field goal percentage (52.1 percent). - Olivia Mortensen ranks fourth in the MIAA with a field goal percentage of 51.0 percent.

1K Magic - Talexa Weeter surpassed the 1,000-point plateau in the first quarter against Rogers State last Thursday (Jan. 23). - She is the 26th player in program to hit that milestone. - The Goodland, Kan. native needed only 62 games to reach that threshold, second-fastest in team history (Annette Wiles 57 games, Shauna Porter 65 games).

Last Time Out - The No. 5 Tigers never trailed in a 78-65 win over Central Oklahoma on Saturday (1/24/26). - Fort Hays State matched its season-high with 10 made 3-pointers, including a career-high five from Talexa Weeter. - The Tigers led by as many as 25 midway through the fourth quarter. - The Bronchos scored 49 points off the bench, the most allowed by FHSU this season.

Scouting the Ichabods - Washburn is 14-5 overall and 7-3 in league action. The Ichabods are 3-3 in true road games this season. - The Ichabods boast the top scoring defense in the league, allowing just 55.9 points per game. They force 18.8 turnovers per contest, the most in the league. - Yiibari Nwidadah is tied for first in the MIAA with a field goal percentage of 55.9 percent. She leads the team with 12.8 ppg.

Series History with Washburn - Washburn leads the all-time series, 48-42. - The Tigers had won 10 in a row, their longest winning streak in series history, before falling on the road last month. - FHSU is 22-21 all-time at home against the Ichabods. - The Tigers are 3-1 against WU under head coach Talia Kahrs, including a 2-0 record at home. - FHSU is 16-16 against the Ichabods in MIAA regular season matchups. - The teams are tied 2-2 in overtime matchups

Last Meeting with the Ichabods - The No. 3 Tigers dropped their first game of the season, losing to Washburn 67-64. - FHSU had a shot at the end of the game to tie the score, but Brooke Loewe's 3-point attempt was off the mark. - Both teams held 11 point leads at some point in the game. - FHSU scored 18 in a row in the first quarter. - Talexa Weeter led all scorers with 28 points, while Brooke Loewe recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.

Career Stats vs. WU - Talexa Weeter - 14.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.3 apg in four games, scored in double figures three times including one with 20-plus - Brooke Loewe - 7.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.6 apg in five games, scored in double figures twice including one double-double - Ellie Stearns - 4.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.8 apg in five games

On This Date - The Tigers are 9-4 in recorded history on January 29, most recently defeating Nebraska-Kearney 76-63 on the road in 2022. - #7 Fort Hays State bounced back from a 14-point deficit to defeat the 17th-ranked Lopers by double figures. - FHSU has won five in a row on this date, with the last Jan. 29 loss coming in 1999 against UCCS.

Class of the Conference Since joining the MIAA in 2006-07 (20 seasons), the Tigers lead the league with 429 wins. They have averaged more than 21 wins per season during that time.

Fresh Start Olivia Mortensen is the 14th true freshman to start a season opener for the Tigers during the DII era (since 1991-92) and the first since Ellie Stearns in 2022.

MIAA Athlete of the Week x 6 - Fort Hays State has earned six MIAA Athlete of the Week honors this season, including five for Talexa Weeter and one for Brooke Loewe. The entire rest of the league has a combined four such awards this season, with no other program earning more than one honor this year. - Weeter's five weekly honors are the most by a player in the league since Brooke Littrell in 2022-23 and are the most for a Tiger since Kate Lehman had seven in 2014-15. - Weeter averaged 32.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 60.5 percent from the floor in the first two games of the season. - The Goodland, Kan. native then averaged 33.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in the two wins in Denver before Thanksgiving. - Weeter totaled 32 points and 13 rebounds in a blowout win over No. 6 Pittsburg State. - She erupted for an average of 37 points and 12 rebounds with a pair of double-doubles against Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western, including a career-high 45 points against the Bearcats that is one off the program record and is tied for the most points scored by a DII athlete this season. - Loewe earned the award on January 13 after breaking the school record with 17 assists at Nebraska-Kearney and following that up with 15 assists against Northwest Missouri State. Both totals are more than any other DII athlete this season, while her 17 assists are the most across all NCAA divisions this season and are the most by a DII athlete since 2023. She averaged a double-double for the week with 10.0 points and 16.0 assists. - Weeter collected her fifth honor of the season on January 26 after averaging 26.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in wins over Rogers State and Central Oklahoma. She surpassed 1,000 career points in the win over the Hillcats.

Road Warriors - Fort Hays State played its first home game of the season on December 13 after starting the season with eight straight away from home. - It was the latest home opener for the team on record (since at least 1973). The previous latest date for the Tigers to play their first home game is December 10, 1975 when FHSU lost to Northwestern Oklahoma State, 75-45.

First Time at Home The Tigers are 30-5 in home openers during the NCAA DII era, including 18-straight wins from 2004 to 2021 before the Tigers lost on a buzzer beater to Minnesota State in the 2022 home opener.

Nationally Recognized - The Tigers are ranked fifth in this week's WBCA Coaches Poll. - FHSU has been ranked as high as No. 3 this year after opening the year ninth in the coaches poll. - The Tigers are one of four teams that have been ranked inside the top 10 of every weekly release this season. - This is the seventh time the Tigers have been ranked in the preseason. FHSU also opened the 2024-25 ranked 23rd, the 2022-23 season ranked third, the 2021-22 season ranked fourth, the 2019-20 season ranked seventh, the 2018-19 season ranked 12th and the 2015-16 season ranked 10th. - Fort Hays State has been ranked inside the top 25 in 122 different weekly releases from the WBCA. - This is the eighth-straight season the Tigers have been ranked at some point and the 13th-such season all-time. - Including the 2017-18 season (multiple weeks receiving votes), the Tigers have been mentioned in the polls at least once in each of the last 13 seasons.

18 and Over The Tigers have finished a season with at least 18 MIAA wins five times since joining the league in 2006-07, more than any other school during that span (UCM 4, MWSU 3, UNK 2, MSSU 1, NWMSU 1, PSU 1, WU 1).

Double-Digit Winning Streaks - FHSU's current winning streak of 11 games is the 17th double-digit streak in team history. - The Tigers' streak is tied for the ninth-longest active streak in DII and is one of 11 active double digit streaks. - Fort Hays State had multiple unique 10-game winning streaks in a season three times, in 1990-91, 2018-19 and 2024-25.

Making it a Habit After reaching the NCAA Tournament once in its first 23 years in the Association, Fort Hays State has now been selected to compete in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship nine times over the last 11 seasons.

The Big 3-0 Fort Hays State reached the 30-win plateau for the fourth time in program history in 2021-22. FHSU has three 30-win seasons since 2014-15, while the rest of the MIAA has two 30-win campaign combined during that span (UCM 2017-18, PSU 2024-25).

Trophy SZN The Tigers won their fourth regular season MIAA championship and their second MIAA postseason tournament championship in 2021-22. FHSU now has 11 regular season conference titles all-time and three conference tournament titles. No school has won more MIAA regular season titles since FHSU joined the league in 2006-07 (FHSU 4, WU 4, UCM 3, MWSU 3, ESU 2, PSU 2, NWMSU 1, MSSU 1, UNK 1).

Century Mark FHSU has 25 100-point outings in its illustrious history, most recently a 100-59 win over Rogers State (2/20/20), which was the first time FHSU scored 100 points against a Division II opponent since 2013 (114-86 vs Newman, 1/26/13).

Home Sweet Home - Fort Hays State is leading Division II with an average attendance of 1,832 fans per game. - The Tigers led Division II with an average attendance of 2,084 per home contest last season. That total would rank 84th in DI and was more than 282 DI programs.

Looking Ahead The Tigers wrap up their homestand on Saturday, January 31 when they look to complete the season sweep against Central Missouri. Opening tip is set for 2 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

<figure>
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 </figure>FHSU Athletics#5 Fort Hays State (18-1, 9-1 MIAA) vs. Washburn (14-5, 7-3 MIAA) Thursday, January 29, 2026 • 5:30 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial ColiseumRadio:&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>Game Sponsor: High Plains Farm Credit National Anthem: FHSU Singers Promotions: FHSU Student Night - prizes given away to students all evening, FHSU Faculty/Staff Appreciation, Vision Dance performance at halftimeThe fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will look to avenge its only loss of the season on Thursday (Jan. 29) when the Tigers host Washburn. First tip is slated for 5:30 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.Quick Hits - The Tigers have won 11 games in a row, the ninth-longest active streak in DII. It is the 17th double-digit winning streak in program history. - With an average attendance of 1,832 fans per game, the Tigers once again lead Division II in attendance. - Fort Hays State has won 26 games when ranked fifth in the WBCA DII poll, more than any other spot. - Two wins this week would give the Tigers their first 10-0 month since January 2015. - The Tigers have won five in a row on January 29, with the last loss on this date coming in 1999. - Talexa Weeter became the 26th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points last Thursday. She needed 62 games to reach that threshold, second-fastest in team history (Annette Wiles - 57 gms, Shauna Porter - 65 gms). - FHSU leads the MIAA with 429 wins since joining the league 20 years ago (2006), two more than Emporia State. - The Tigers' 18-1 record is the third-best start in team history. The Tigers opened the 2018-19 season 32-1 and the 2014-15 season 22-1. - The Tigers have earned six MIAA Athlete of the Week honors this season. No other team has more than one. - Loewe averages 10.2 assists per game and is the only NCAA athlete, male or female, currently averaging in double figures in assists. Her 17 assists at UNK are the most across all divisions of NCAA WBB. - Talexa Weeter leads Division II and ranks second across all NCAA divisions with an average of 27.9 points per game. For context, the MIAA record for single season scoring average is 25.4 ppg (MSSU's Melissa Grider, 95-96).20 Wins Now the Norm - Fort Hays State is two wins away from reaching the 20-win plateau for the 15th-consecutive season, extending the longest active streak of 20-win seasons in Division II. FHSU's streak is tied for the fifth-longest active streak of 20-win seasons across all NCAA Divisions. - FHSU reached the 20-win plateau just eight times over the first 42 years of the program before the current streak began in 2011-12, including no more than two consecutive 20-win campaigns during that time. - The next-best active streak of 20-win seasons in the MIAA is four (MWSU), while the next-best streak in DII is Drury with 12. - Only four DI programs have longer active stretches of 20-win seasons, including UConn (33), Baylor (25), Florida Gulf Coast (21) and Louisville (15). Fort Hays State's run of 14-straight 20-win seasons is tied with South Carolina and South Dakota State for sixth-best in all NCAA women's basketball.National/MIAA Rankings - The Tigers lead the nation in assists per game (20.3) and defensive rebounds per game (32.4) while ranking second in assist/turnover ratio (1.27), fourth in field goal percentage (48.3 percent), fourth in fewest fouls per game (12.7), fifth in winning percentage (94.7 percent), 10th in 3-point percentage (36.6 percent), 15th in scoring offense (78.1) and 15th in scoring margin (plus-16.3). FHSU also leads the conference in each of those categories. - While the Tigers are first in the country in defensive rebounding, FHSU is last in the MIAA in offensive rebounding (9.2 per game). Overall the Tigers rank third in the league with an average of 41.5 rebounds per night. - Brooke Loewe's 10.2 assists per game are the most across all NCAA divisions. In fact, she is the only NCAA student-athlete, male or female, currently averaging in double figures in assists. - Talexa Weeter leads Division II and ranks second across all NCAA divisions with an average of 27.9 points per game. - Loewe's 17 assists against Nebraska-Kearney are the most in a game across all NCAA divisions of women's basketball this season and second-most across all divisions including men's basketball (Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Quion Williams had 18 assists vs. Champion Christian). - Loewe has recorded 14 or more assists five times this season. Only one other DII athlete has done so once (Brielle Minor, Cal Poly Pomona). - Weeter's 45 points against Northwest Missouri State are tied for second-most by a DII athlete this season. - Weeter ranks second in the MIAA in rebounds (9.1 per game) and third in the MIAA in field goal percentage (52.1 percent). - Olivia Mortensen ranks fourth in the MIAA with a field goal percentage of 51.0 percent.1K Magic - Talexa Weeter surpassed the 1,000-point plateau in the first quarter against Rogers State last Thursday (Jan. 23). - She is the 26th player in program to hit that milestone. - The Goodland, Kan. native needed only 62 games to reach that threshold, second-fastest in team history (Annette Wiles 57 games, Shauna Porter 65 games).Last Time Out - The No. 5 Tigers never trailed in a 78-65 win over Central Oklahoma on Saturday (1/24/26). - Fort Hays State matched its season-high with 10 made 3-pointers, including a career-high five from Talexa Weeter. - The Tigers led by as many as 25 midway through the fourth quarter. - The Bronchos scored 49 points off the bench, the most allowed by FHSU this season.Scouting the Ichabods - Washburn is 14-5 overall and 7-3 in league action. The Ichabods are 3-3 in true road games this season. - The Ichabods boast the top scoring defense in the league, allowing just 55.9 points per game. They force 18.8 turnovers per contest, the most in the league. - Yiibari Nwidadah is tied for first in the MIAA with a field goal percentage of 55.9 percent. She leads the team with 12.8 ppg.Series History with Washburn - Washburn leads the all-time series, 48-42. - The Tigers had won 10 in a row, their longest winning streak in series history, before falling on the road last month. - FHSU is 22-21 all-time at home against the Ichabods. - The Tigers are 3-1 against WU under head coach Talia Kahrs, including a 2-0 record at home. - FHSU is 16-16 against the Ichabods in MIAA regular season matchups. - The teams are tied 2-2 in overtime matchupsLast Meeting with the Ichabods - The No. 3 Tigers dropped their first game of the season, losing to Washburn 67-64. - FHSU had a shot at the end of the game to tie the score, but Brooke Loewe's 3-point attempt was off the mark. - Both teams held 11 point leads at some point in the game. - FHSU scored 18 in a row in the first quarter. - Talexa Weeter led all scorers with 28 points, while Brooke Loewe recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.Career Stats vs. WU - Talexa Weeter - 14.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.3 apg in four games, scored in double figures three times including one with 20-plus - Brooke Loewe - 7.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.6 apg in five games, scored in double figures twice including one double-double - Ellie Stearns - 4.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.8 apg in five gamesOn This Date - The Tigers are 9-4 in recorded history on January 29, most recently defeating Nebraska-Kearney 76-63 on the road in 2022. - #7 Fort Hays State bounced back from a 14-point deficit to defeat the 17th-ranked Lopers by double figures. - FHSU has won five in a row on this date, with the last Jan. 29 loss coming in 1999 against UCCS.Class of the Conference Since joining the MIAA in 2006-07 (20 seasons), the Tigers lead the league with 429 wins. They have averaged more than 21 wins per season during that time.Fresh Start Olivia Mortensen is the 14th true freshman to start a season opener for the Tigers during the DII era (since 1991-92) and the first since Ellie Stearns in 2022.MIAA Athlete of the Week x 6 - Fort Hays State has earned six MIAA Athlete of the Week honors this season, including five for Talexa Weeter and one for Brooke Loewe. The entire rest of the league has a combined four such awards this season, with no other program earning more than one honor this year. - Weeter's five weekly honors are the most by a player in the league since Brooke Littrell in 2022-23 and are the most for a Tiger since Kate Lehman had seven in 2014-15. - Weeter averaged 32.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 60.5 percent from the floor in the first two games of the season. - The Goodland, Kan. native then averaged 33.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in the two wins in Denver before Thanksgiving. - Weeter totaled 32 points and 13 rebounds in a blowout win over No. 6 Pittsburg State. - She erupted for an average of 37 points and 12 rebounds with a pair of double-doubles against Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western, including a career-high 45 points against the Bearcats that is one off the program record and is tied for the most points scored by a DII athlete this season. - Loewe earned the award on January 13 after breaking the school record with 17 assists at Nebraska-Kearney and following that up with 15 assists against Northwest Missouri State. Both totals are more than any other DII athlete this season, while her 17 assists are the most across all NCAA divisions this season and are the most by a DII athlete since 2023. She averaged a double-double for the week with 10.0 points and 16.0 assists. - Weeter collected her fifth honor of the season on January 26 after averaging 26.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in wins over Rogers State and Central Oklahoma. She surpassed 1,000 career points in the win over the Hillcats.Road Warriors - Fort Hays State played its first home game of the season on December 13 after starting the season with eight straight away from home. - It was the latest home opener for the team on record (since at least 1973). The previous latest date for the Tigers to play their first home game is December 10, 1975 when FHSU lost to Northwestern Oklahoma State, 75-45.First Time at Home The Tigers are 30-5 in home openers during the NCAA DII era, including 18-straight wins from 2004 to 2021 before the Tigers lost on a buzzer beater to Minnesota State in the 2022 home opener.Nationally Recognized - The Tigers are ranked fifth in this week's WBCA Coaches Poll. - FHSU has been ranked as high as No. 3 this year after opening the year ninth in the coaches poll. - The Tigers are one of four teams that have been ranked inside the top 10 of every weekly release this season. - This is the seventh time the Tigers have been ranked in the preseason. FHSU also opened the 2024-25 ranked 23rd, the 2022-23 season ranked third, the 2021-22 season ranked fourth, the 2019-20 season ranked seventh, the 2018-19 season ranked 12th and the 2015-16 season ranked 10th. - Fort Hays State has been ranked inside the top 25 in 122 different weekly releases from the WBCA. - This is the eighth-straight season the Tigers have been ranked at some point and the 13th-such season all-time. - Including the 2017-18 season (multiple weeks receiving votes), the Tigers have been mentioned in the polls at least once in each of the last 13 seasons.18 and Over The Tigers have finished a season with at least 18 MIAA wins five times since joining the league in 2006-07, more than any other school during that span (UCM 4, MWSU 3, UNK 2, MSSU 1, NWMSU 1, PSU 1, WU 1).Double-Digit Winning Streaks - FHSU's current winning streak of 11 games is the 17th double-digit streak in team history. - The Tigers' streak is tied for the ninth-longest active streak in DII and is one of 11 active double digit streaks. - Fort Hays State had multiple unique 10-game winning streaks in a season three times, in 1990-91, 2018-19 and 2024-25.Making it a Habit After reaching the NCAA Tournament once in its first 23 years in the Association, Fort Hays State has now been selected to compete in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship nine times over the last 11 seasons.The Big 3-0 Fort Hays State reached the 30-win plateau for the fourth time in program history in 2021-22. FHSU has three 30-win seasons since 2014-15, while the rest of the MIAA has two 30-win campaign combined during that span (UCM 2017-18, PSU 2024-25).Trophy SZN The Tigers won their fourth regular season MIAA championship and their second MIAA postseason tournament championship in 2021-22. FHSU now has 11 regular season conference titles all-time and three conference tournament titles. No school has won more MIAA regular season titles since FHSU joined the league in 2006-07 (FHSU 4, WU 4, UCM 3, MWSU 3, ESU 2, PSU 2, NWMSU 1, MSSU 1, UNK 1).Century Mark FHSU has 25 100-point outings in its illustrious history, most recently a 100-59 win over Rogers State (2/20/20), which was the first time FHSU scored 100 points against a Division II opponent since 2013 (114-86 vs Newman, 1/26/13).Home Sweet Home - Fort Hays State is leading Division II with an average attendance of 1,832 fans per game. - The Tigers led Division II with an average attendance of 2,084 per home contest last season. That total would rank 84th in DI and was more than 282 DI programs.Looking Ahead The Tigers wrap up their homestand on Saturday, January 31 when they look to complete the season sweep against Central Missouri. Opening tip is set for 2 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

🏀🎧 LISTEN: #5 FHSU women look to avenge lone loss Thursday

Thursday, January 29 KJLS: Fort Hays State MWBKB vs. Washburn, 5:05pm

Saturday, January 31 KJLS: Fort Hays State MWBKB vs. Central Missouri, 1:35pm KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. BYU, 2:00pm KHAZ: TMP-Marian MBKB vs. Plainville, approx. 2:10pm&nbsp; &nbsp;

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)Thursday, January 29 KJLS: Fort Hays State MWBKB vs. Washburn, 5:05pmFriday, January 30 KKQY: Hoxie MWBKB at Quinter, 5:00pm * KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Larned, 5:40pm KFIX: Hays High MWBKB vs. Great Bend, 5:40pmSaturday, January 31 KJLS: Fort Hays State MWBKB vs. Central Missouri, 1:35pm KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. BYU, 2:00pm KHAZ: TMP-Marian MBKB vs. Plainville, approx. 2:10pm&nbsp; &nbsp;Sunday, February 1 none

WINGATE, N.C. - Fort Hays State's Brandon Chavez has been named to the NCBWA Preseason All-Central Region Team, announced Tuesday (Jan. 27) by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Chavez is one of four MIAA student-athletes named to the list, while the junior is the only MIAA pitcher listed on the team.

2026 NCBWA Preseason All-Central Region Team C - Collin Helms, Harding 1B - Tyler Sardelli, Arkansas Tech 2B - Jackson Merovsh, Washburn SS - Cole Dawson, Arkansas Tech 3B - Logan Lacey, Harding + OF - Issac Pegors, UMary OF - Levi Lampert, Southwest Minn. State OF - Noah Steele, Emporia State DH - Dagen Brewer, Pitt State UTIL - Louis Magers, Minnesota State SP - Ashton Michek, Augustana SP - Sam George, Minnesota State + SP - Will Kates, Northwestern Oklahoma RP - Braden Cannon, Wayne State ^ RP - Brandon Chavez, Fort Hays State ^

<figure>
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 </figure>FHSU AthleticsWINGATE, N.C. - Fort Hays State's Brandon Chavez has been named to the NCBWA Preseason All-Central Region Team, announced Tuesday (Jan. 27) by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.Chavez is one of four MIAA student-athletes named to the list, while the junior is the only MIAA pitcher listed on the team.A native of Laramie, Wyo., Chavez was a first team All-MIAA pick as a sophomore last season. The reliever ranked second in the league and 15th in DII with nine saves, tied for fifth most in team history. He's struck out 62 batters in 63.1 innings during his college career, making 33 appearances and two starts. Chavez limited opponents to a .246 batting average last season while ranking second on the team with a WHIP of 1.23.Fort Hays State will open the 2026 season this weekend (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) with a three-game road series at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.2026 NCBWA Preseason All-Central Region Team C - Collin Helms, Harding 1B - Tyler Sardelli, Arkansas Tech 2B - Jackson Merovsh, Washburn SS - Cole Dawson, Arkansas Tech 3B - Logan Lacey, Harding + OF - Issac Pegors, UMary OF - Levi Lampert, Southwest Minn. State OF - Noah Steele, Emporia State DH - Dagen Brewer, Pitt State UTIL - Louis Magers, Minnesota State SP - Ashton Michek, Augustana SP - Sam George, Minnesota State + SP - Will Kates, Northwestern Oklahoma RP - Braden Cannon, Wayne State ^ RP - Brandon Chavez, Fort Hays State ^

⚾ FHSU's Chavez named to preseason all-region team

TOPEKA – As usual, a trio of upperclassmen led the Hays High swimmers Tuesday.

But they also got some help from freshman teammates to help them overcome illness that has hindered the team lately.

The Indians scored 266 points to finish in the top third of the highly competitive 12-team Topeka High meet.

Lawerence Free State, which owns top-10 times in Class 6A in more than than half of the 12 events, dominated the team scoring with 507 points – more than 200 more than runner-up Lawrence High.

Hays High seniors Chase Zadina and Karsen Flaska and junior Cedric Durr combined to place in the top eight in 11 events.

One of those was the 400-yard freestyle relay, the last event of the day.

When senior Maison Desaire had to withdraw from that relay because of illness, freshman Col Lonsdale was called upon to fill in.

Lonsdale erased more than five seconds off his previous personal-best time to help the Indians place second – their highest finish on the day.

Another freshman, Jace Herbers, also helped contribute several points, helping two relay teams finish in the top eight as well as finishing fifth in the 50y freestyle.

The top individual finishes came from Zadina (100y butterfly) and Flaska (100y butterfly), who each placed third.

Next action for the Indians will be Saturday at Wichita Northwest.

Team scores Lawrence Free State 507, Lawrence High 290, Olathe South 282, Hays High 266, Junction City 225, Topeka-Hayden 180, Topeka-Seaman 154, Topeka High 142, Great Bend 90, Salian South 70, Salina Central 15, Lost Springs-Centre 7.

Hays High results 200y medley relay – 3. (Karsen Flaska, Jzce Herbers, Cedric Durr, Chase Zadina) 200y individual medley – 5. Herbers 50y freestyle – 5. Flaska 100y butterfly – 3. Zadina 100y freestyle – 7. Zadina; 8. Durr 200y freestyle relay – 8. (Maison Desaire, Brooks Dixon, Seth Burkholder, Herbers) 100y freestyle backstroke – 3. Flaska 100y breaststroke – 7. Herbers 400y freestyle relay – 2. (Zadina, Col Lonsdale, Durr, Flaska)

SubmittedTOPEKA – As usual, a trio of upperclassmen led the Hays High swimmers Tuesday.But they also got some help from freshman teammates to help them overcome illness that has hindered the team lately.The Indians scored 266 points to finish in the top third of the highly competitive 12-team Topeka High meet.Lawerence Free State, which owns top-10 times in Class 6A in more than than half of the 12 events, dominated the team scoring with 507 points – more than 200 more than runner-up Lawrence High.Hays High seniors Chase Zadina and Karsen Flaska and junior Cedric Durr combined to place in the top eight in 11 events.One of those was the 400-yard freestyle relay, the last event of the day.When senior Maison Desaire had to withdraw from that relay because of illness, freshman Col Lonsdale was called upon to fill in.Lonsdale erased more than five seconds off his previous personal-best time to help the Indians place second – their highest finish on the day.Another freshman, Jace Herbers, also helped contribute several points, helping two relay teams finish in the top eight as well as finishing fifth in the 50y freestyle.The top individual finishes came from Zadina (100y butterfly) and Flaska (100y butterfly), who each placed third.Next action for the Indians will be Saturday at Wichita Northwest.Team scores Lawrence Free State 507, Lawrence High 290, Olathe South 282, Hays High 266, Junction City 225, Topeka-Hayden 180, Topeka-Seaman 154, Topeka High 142, Great Bend 90, Salian South 70, Salina Central 15, Lost Springs-Centre 7.Hays High results 200y medley relay – 3. (Karsen Flaska, Jzce Herbers, Cedric Durr, Chase Zadina) 200y individual medley – 5. Herbers 50y freestyle – 5. Flaska 100y butterfly – 3. Zadina 100y freestyle – 7. Zadina; 8. Durr 200y freestyle relay – 8. (Maison Desaire, Brooks Dixon, Seth Burkholder, Herbers) 100y freestyle backstroke – 3. Flaska 100y breaststroke – 7. Herbers 400y freestyle relay – 2. (Zadina, Col Lonsdale, Durr, Flaska)

🏊‍♂️ Indian swimmers perform well at Topeka

NEW ORLEANS - The Fort Hays State women's indoor track and field team is ranked 20th in the initial release of the USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Track and Field Rating Index, released Tuesday by the coaches association.

The Tigers boast two individuals that rank in the top three in the country in their discipline, including Annabeth Baalmann in the pole vault and Katie Linenberger in the high jump.

Baalmann leads Division II with her school-record clearance of 14-1.25 last month. The three-time All-American is the only DII athlete to sucessfully clear the 14-foot threshold this season. The senior's top mark is 3.5 inches higher than her nearest competitor.

Linenberger ranks third in DII with her personal-best clearance of 5-9.25. She is one of five athletes in Division II to clear 5-9 or better this season and is the the only freshman to post a mark of 5-8 or better on the year. That mark is tied for second-best at FHSU during the program's NCAA Division II era.

The Tigers will return to action at a pair of meets this weekend (Jan. 30-31), with some competitors heading to Kearney, Neb. for the Charlie Foster Classic and others headed to Topeka, Kan. for the Washburn Open.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769620114594.png" alt="FHSU Athletics image" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics image</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsNEW ORLEANS - The Fort Hays State women's indoor track and field team is ranked 20th in the initial release of the USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Track and Field Rating Index, released Tuesday by the coaches association.The Tigers boast two individuals that rank in the top three in the country in their discipline, including Annabeth Baalmann in the pole vault and Katie Linenberger in the high jump.Baalmann leads Division II with her school-record clearance of 14-1.25 last month. The three-time All-American is the only DII athlete to sucessfully clear the 14-foot threshold this season. The senior's top mark is 3.5 inches higher than her nearest competitor.Linenberger ranks third in DII with her personal-best clearance of 5-9.25. She is one of five athletes in Division II to clear 5-9 or better this season and is the the only freshman to post a mark of 5-8 or better on the year. That mark is tied for second-best at FHSU during the program's NCAA Division II era.The Tigers will return to action at a pair of meets this weekend (Jan. 30-31), with some competitors heading to Kearney, Neb. for the Charlie Foster Classic and others headed to Topeka, Kan. for the Washburn Open.

👟 FHSU women 20th in initial USTFCCCA rating index

Saturday, January 31 KJLS: Fort Hays State
MWBKB vs. Central Missouri, 1:35pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. BYU, 2:00pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MBKB vs. Plainville, approx. 2:10pm&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)Wednesday, January 28 noneThursday, January 29 KJLS: Fort Hays State MWBKB vs. Washburn, 5:05pmFriday, January 30 KKQY: Hoxie MWBKB at Quinter, 5:00pm * KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Larned, 5:40pm KFIX: Hays High MWBKB vs. Great Bend, 5:40pmSaturday, January 31 KJLS: Fort Hays State
MWBKB vs. Central Missouri, 1:35pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. BYU, 2:00pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MBKB vs. Plainville, approx. 2:10pm&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Sunday, February 1 none

GIRLS Dighton 57, Otis-Bison 8
 Ellinwood 86, Ness City 13
 Ellsworth 67, Plainville 27 Hoxie 71, Russell 34 Phillipsburg 57, Hoisington 51
 Smith Center 48, Hill City 23
 St. John 54, LaCrosse 36 Sylvan-Lucas 39, Osborne 38 TMP-Marian 50, Great Bend 32
 Quinter 64, Golden Plains 26
 Rawlins County 55, Logan/Palco 26 Victoria 42, Ellis 26 Wheatland-Grinnell 59, Trego 56, OT

BOYS Ellinwood 86, Ness City 13 Ellis 56, Victoria 53 Great Bend 75, TMP-Marian 62 Hoisington 61, Phillipsburg 46 Otis-Bison 57, Dighton 46 Plainville 51, Ellsworth 33 Quinter 60, Golden Plains 19 Rawlins County 60, Logan/Palco 32 Russell 63, Hoxie 37 Smith Center 44, Hill City 42 St. John 70, La Crosse 55 Sylvan-Lucas 58, Osborne 36 Trego 61, Wheatland-Grinnell 39

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768839911264.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>GIRLS Dighton 57, Otis-Bison 8
 Ellinwood 86, Ness City 13
 Ellsworth 67, Plainville 27 Hoxie 71, Russell 34 Phillipsburg 57, Hoisington 51
 Smith Center 48, Hill City 23
 St. John 54, LaCrosse 36 Sylvan-Lucas 39, Osborne 38 TMP-Marian 50, Great Bend 32
 Quinter 64, Golden Plains 26
 Rawlins County 55, Logan/Palco 26 Victoria 42, Ellis 26 Wheatland-Grinnell 59, Trego 56, OTBOYS Ellinwood 86, Ness City 13 Ellis 56, Victoria 53 Great Bend 75, TMP-Marian 62 Hoisington 61, Phillipsburg 46 Otis-Bison 57, Dighton 46 Plainville 51, Ellsworth 33 Quinter 60, Golden Plains 19 Rawlins County 60, Logan/Palco 32 Russell 63, Hoxie 37 Smith Center 44, Hill City 42 St. John 70, La Crosse 55 Sylvan-Lucas 58, Osborne 36 Trego 61, Wheatland-Grinnell 39

🏀 Area basketball scores - Tuesday, January 27

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Honor Huff scored 17 points and Treysen Eaglestaff scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds and West Virginia beat Kansas State 59-54 on Tuesday night.

Brenen Lorient scored 10 points for West Virginia (14-7, 5-3 Big 12), which has won three of four and six of its last nine games. It was the third fewest points scored this season for Kansas State.

P.J. Haggerty scored 16 points, David Castillo scored 15 points and Nate Johnson 13 for Kansas State (10-11, 1-7). The Wildcats have lost seven of their last eight.

West Virginia led 57-54 with 22 seconds left before the Jayhawks intentionally fouled Huff. He missed the front end of a one-and-one and Kansas State took possession.

Lorient blocked Haggerty's layup attempt with 14 seconds left. Kansas State maintained possession but Haggerty's 3-point attempt with 10 seconds left was off the mark.

Taj Manning fouled Huff and he made both foul shots with eight seconds left to seal the win.

Kansas State: Hosts No. 8 Iowa State on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769569866855.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Honor Huff scored 17 points and Treysen Eaglestaff scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds and West Virginia beat Kansas State 59-54 on Tuesday night.Brenen Lorient scored 10 points for West Virginia (14-7, 5-3 Big 12), which has won three of four and six of its last nine games. It was the third fewest points scored this season for Kansas State.P.J. Haggerty scored 16 points, David Castillo scored 15 points and Nate Johnson 13 for Kansas State (10-11, 1-7). The Wildcats have lost seven of their last eight.West Virginia led 57-54 with 22 seconds left before the Jayhawks intentionally fouled Huff. He missed the front end of a one-and-one and Kansas State took possession.Lorient blocked Haggerty's layup attempt with 14 seconds left. Kansas State maintained possession but Haggerty's 3-point attempt with 10 seconds left was off the mark.Taj Manning fouled Huff and he made both foul shots with eight seconds left to seal the win.<h2>Up Next</h2>Kansas State: Hosts No. 8 Iowa State on Sunday.West Virginia: Hosts Baylor on Saturday.

🏀 Huff, Eaglestaff help lift West Virginia past Kansas State

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post Sports

GREAT BEND – The TMP-Marian Monarchs girls’ and boys’
basketball teams split a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday night at Great
Bend High School.

The Lady Monarchs picked up a 50-32 victory. The TMP boys
fell 75-62.

GIRLS: TMP 50, Great Bend 32 TMP’s Hannah Rose scored eight of the Monarchs' first 10
points as the Monarchs raced out to an early lead and never trailed as they
beat the Panthers 50-32 Tuesday.

Rose connected on back-to-back three pointers to put TMP
(8-5) up 6-0. Raegan Allen and Rose added a pair of field goals, giving TMP the
10-0 lead.

After Great Bend (3-11) closed within seven points, at 15-7,
Paige Koenigsman knocked down a three-pointer in the final seconds of the first
quarter, putting TMP up 18-8.

Great Bend again closed with nine points to open the second
quarter before the Monarchs closed the quarter on a 13-4 run to end the first
half and open the third quarter for a 32-15 TMP lead.

The Monarchs used a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter to secure
the double-digit victory, 50-32.

Hannah Rose led all scorers with 10 points, and Claire Schippers
added 9 points.

BOYS: Great Bend 75, TMP 62 The Great Bend Panthers erased a 22-point first-half TMP
lead in a 75-62 victory.

After a pair of early lead changes and two ties, the Monarchs
strung together a 26-4 run, giving TMP the 30-8 first-half lead.

Ty Schmeidler scored eight of his game-high 16 points, and Will
Eck scored nine points during the first-quarter run as the Monarchs outscored
Great Bend 25-8.

Schmeidler scored five straight
points to start the second quarter as TMP built its largest lead of the game at
30-8.

After that, Great Bend wrestled
the momentum away from TMP, and they answered with a 34-8 run to close out the
first half and begin the second.

That allowed the Panthers to
storm back and take the lead at 42-38.

TMP’s Jacob Seib briefly gave the
Monarchs a 54-53 lead on the first possession of the fourth quarter, but Great
Bend answered with a three-pointer for a 56-54 lead.

A lead they never surrendered in
the 75-62 victory.

Jacob Hall led all scorers with
28 for the Panthers. 

The Monarchs will travel to Larned Friday.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post SportsGREAT BEND – The TMP-Marian Monarchs girls’ and boys’
basketball teams split a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday night at Great
Bend High School.The Lady Monarchs picked up a 50-32 victory. The TMP boys
fell 75-62.GIRLS: TMP 50, Great Bend 32 TMP’s Hannah Rose scored eight of the Monarchs' first 10
points as the Monarchs raced out to an early lead and never trailed as they
beat the Panthers 50-32 Tuesday.Rose connected on back-to-back three pointers to put TMP
(8-5) up 6-0. Raegan Allen and Rose added a pair of field goals, giving TMP the
10-0 lead.After Great Bend (3-11) closed within seven points, at 15-7,
Paige Koenigsman knocked down a three-pointer in the final seconds of the first
quarter, putting TMP up 18-8.Great Bend again closed with nine points to open the second
quarter before the Monarchs closed the quarter on a 13-4 run to end the first
half and open the third quarter for a 32-15 TMP lead.The Monarchs used a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter to secure
the double-digit victory, 50-32.Hannah Rose led all scorers with 10 points, and Claire Schippers
added 9 points.BOYS: Great Bend 75, TMP 62 The Great Bend Panthers erased a 22-point first-half TMP
lead in a 75-62 victory.After a pair of early lead changes and two ties, the Monarchs
strung together a 26-4 run, giving TMP the 30-8 first-half lead.Ty Schmeidler scored eight of his game-high 16 points, and Will
Eck scored nine points during the first-quarter run as the Monarchs outscored
Great Bend 25-8.Schmeidler scored five straight
points to start the second quarter as TMP built its largest lead of the game at
30-8.After that, Great Bend wrestled
the momentum away from TMP, and they answered with a 34-8 run to close out the
first half and begin the second.That allowed the Panthers to
storm back and take the lead at 42-38.TMP’s Jacob Seib briefly gave the
Monarchs a 54-53 lead on the first possession of the fourth quarter, but Great
Bend answered with a three-pointer for a 56-54 lead.A lead they never surrendered in
the 75-62 victory.Schmeidler led TMP with 15
points.Jacob Hall led all scorers with
28 for the Panthers. The Monarchs will travel to Larned Friday.

🏀 TMP splits doubleheader at Great Bend

TMP-Marian at Great Bend Tuesday, Jan. 27th, 6 p.m Great Bend, Kan.

Radio:&nbsp;KHAZ (99.5)&nbsp;<a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Monarchs Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/3489334">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The TMP-Marian Monarchs travel to Great Bend Tuesday for a non-league contest with the Panthers.&nbsp;

Tip-off for the girls' game is set for 6:00 p.m. The Hertz Rent-a-Car Pregame Show begins at 5:40 p.m. on 99.5 KZ Country.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575411582384.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>TMP-Marian at Great Bend Tuesday, Jan. 27th, 6 p.m Great Bend, Kan.Radio:&nbsp;KHAZ (99.5)&nbsp;<a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Monarchs Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/3489334">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The TMP-Marian Monarchs travel to Great Bend Tuesday for a non-league contest with the Panthers.&nbsp;Tip-off for the girls' game is set for 6:00 p.m. The Hertz Rent-a-Car Pregame Show begins at 5:40 p.m. on 99.5 KZ Country.