FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State held off a second-half push from Arkansas-Fort Smith Saturday, winning 59-53 at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers built a 16-point halftime lead but saw the Lions pull within one with seven minutes to play.
Fort Hays State (15-7, 8-5 MIAA) opened the game on a 7-0 run before seeing the Lions (9-13, 3-10 MIAA) counter with a 10-2 run to take a one-point lead about seven minutes into the game, their only lead of the game. The Tigers used an 20-5 run to build a 34-18 halftime lead.
The Lions started to chip away at the Tiger lead in the second half, getting the margin inside of 10 with a little over 15 minutes to play. It stayed in single figures the rest of the way. With the Tigers up by nine with 10:27 to play, the Lions used an 8-0 run over about 3:30 to trim the lead down to just one at 43-42.
Lucas Hammeke hit a big bucket to snap the run and then Kyle Grill, who had not scored in the game, came alive offensively with a big pair of buckets. The Lions trimmed the lead to four points three times in the final four minutes, but FHSU held the off for their eighth-straight home win.
FHSU held UAFS to 35.4 percent shooting for the game. FHSU hit 48.9 percent of its field goals. The Tigers had a 12-point advantage in points off turnovers, while having a turnover margin of +5 for the game.
Kaleb Hammeke led the Tigers with 17 points, going 7-of-17 from the field. He was the only Tiger to score in double figures. Grill led in rebounds with a new career-high 11, while adding seven big points late. Shaun Riley had eight points and eight rebounds, while Dan Makuna provided eight points off the bench.
Roland McCoy led the Lions with 12 points, all on four 3-point field goals. Isaiah Lewis had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Tigers head back on the road next week, but stay in the state of Kansas. They play at Emporia State on Wednesday evening and then Newman University on Saturday afternoon.