FHSU Athletics
#23/RV Fort Hays State (16-5, 11-4 MIAA)
vs. Newman (6-14, 3-12 MIAA)
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • 7:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: The MIAA Network CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Game Sponsor: American Family Insurance - Brian Ruder Agency
Fort Hays State men's basketball seeks a regular-season split with Newman University on Thursday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers are looking to avenge a 77-75 overtime loss to the Jets earlier this season in Wichita. FHSU enters the game at 16-5 overall and 11-4 in the MIAA, currently ranked No. 23 nationally in the latest NABC Top 25 Poll. Newman enters at 6-14 overall and 3-12 in the MIAA.
The win for Newman over FHSU in Wichita earlier this season was its first in MIAA play against FHSU. The Tigers had won the first eight meetings since the Jets joined the MIAA in 2019-20. The Tigers have won 13 of the last 15 meetings between the teams overall.
Fort Hays State leads the all-time series with Newman 45-11. The Tigers are 26-2 against the Jets in Hays, currently riding a 17-game win streak against the Jets in Hays. Newman's two wins in Hays have been inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, with the last occurring during the 1981-82 season. Newman has defeated FHSU only three times in FHSU's NCAA Division II history, all by two points or less and all in Wichita.
The Tigers are looking to bounce back from a tough 64-61 double overtime loss at Northwest Missouri State this past weekend. It was a battle between NABC Top 25 teams with the Bearcats ranked No. 16 and the Tigers ranked No. 24. The result created a split in the regular-season series between the teams after FHSU won the first between the teams in Hays. Prior to the loss, FHSU was on a four-game win streak, which matched its longest of the season. Both FHSU and NMSU moved up in the NABC Top 25 this week, NWMSU now at No. 12 and FHSU at No. 23.
Newman is currently riding a nine-game losing streak entering Thursday. The Jets' last win was the overtime win over FHSU back on December 17 in Wichita. Newman is 0-7 so far in true road games this season. Newman's last three games were all in Wichita, falling to Central Oklahoma, Missouri Southern, and Pittsburg State.
Kaleb Hammeke is now just two assists shy of 400 for his career. He is on the verge of becoming the fourth player in FHSU history with at least 1,400 points and 400 in a career, looking to join Raymond Lee, Mark Wilson, and Craig Nicholson. It would also make him one of only four players active in NCAA Division II to reach those same plateaus. Hammeke enters Thursday's game averaging 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.
Elijah Nnanabu is also averaging double figures in scoring for the Tigers at 12.0 points per game. He has scored in double figures five straight games and led the Tigers in scoring in six games this season. Nnanabu also holds a slim team lead in total rebounds with 106, leading a group of four Tigers that have 99 or more.
Stevie Strong leads Newman in scoring at 15.5 points per game. He has scored at least 20 points in five games this season.