By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS - Fort Hays State scored the final 18 points of the first half to build a 15-point halftime then outscored Pittsburg State by 13 in the second half as they bounced back from a loss on Thursday night with an 83-55 win Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Gorillas (5-10,2-7 MIAA) led early by four. The Tigers (11-4,6-3 MIAA) evened the game at 19 on a Bjarni Jonsson layp following a Gabe Pieschl steal. Albert McBride hit a 3-pointer on the next possession to but PSU up three with 8:29 to play in the first half. They would not score again. A Gabe Pieschl layup give the Tigers the lead for good with 6:45 to play in the half.
The Tigers held PSU scoreless for over a minute to start the second half and pushed their lead to 17. The Gorillas never got closer than 17 the rest of the way. The Tigers scored the game's final seven points for the final 28 point margin.
Pieschl and Jonsson led the Tigers with 15 points each. Jonsson hit a canned a career-high three 3-point field goals and finished 6-of-9 from the field. Pieschl was also 6-of-9 from the field and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Nnanabu scored 12 of his 13 points in the second half. Gilbert Peters added 12 points. Jahiem Holden finished with a team-high five assists.
Quentin Hardict led the Gorillas with 11 points. Calvin Poulina added 10. Deshaun English II finished with a team-high nine rebounds for PSU.
The Tigers finished the game at 57.1 percent from the floor and hit seven 3-point field goals. They held the Gorillas to 36.5 percent shooting overall and their opponent to less than 60 points for the ninth time this season.
The FHSU men travel to St. Joseph, Mo. on Tuesday for their make-up game with Missouri Western at 4 p.m. The game originally scheduled for December 10 was postponed due to Missouri Western dealing with COVID-19 issues as a team. The Tigers are back at home on next against Nebraska-Kearney.