FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State (15-7, 10-6 MIAA) at
#6/4 Central Oklahoma (20-2, 14-2 MIAA)
Saturday, February 4 - 3:30 p.m.
Edmond, Okla. - Hamilton Field House
Radio: KJLS (103.3)
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Fort Hays State men's basketball team will play an NABC Top 25 ranked opponent for the fifth time this season when they take on Central Oklahoma in Edmond on Saturday. The Tigers enter the game at 15-7 overall, 10-6 in the MIAA. The No. 6/4 ranked Bronchos enter at 20-2 overall, 14-2 in the MIAA. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Hamilton Field House.
FHSU has one win over a top 25 team this season, that being the 74-53 result at then No. 24 ranked Emporia State back on January 22. FHSU fell in both meetings with a top-10 ranked Northwest Missouri State squad and once to Central Oklahoma.
Fort Hays State held a five-point lead on UCO with just under 10 minutes to go in the first meeting this season in Hays back on December 16. But, the Bronchos went on a 10-0 surge to take a five-point lead of their own and led the rest of the way. Cam Givens had eight of the 10 points in the run. He went on to finish with a game-high 24, helping UCO to a 66-61 win. UCO was ranked No. 11 in both the NABC and D2SIDA Top 25 Polls for that meeting. UCO has been in the Top 25 of both polls for the last two meetings with the Tigers.
The Tigers are looking to snap a three-game skid against the Bronchos. UCO swept the regular season series last year, but FHSU swept the series the season before (2020-21). Gilbert Peters led the Tigers in the first meeting vs. UCO this season with 15 points, while Elijah Nnanabu provided 12 and Kaleb Hammeke had 11. FHSU leads the all-time series with UCO 21-11.
Fort Hays State is coming off a 71-62 win at Newman on Thursday night in Wichita. Elijah Nnanabu tied his career high with 19 points to lead the Tigers. Kaleb Hammeke reached 1,000 points in his career with 12 points, while Bjarni Jonsson made three 3-point field goals and finished with 11 points.
Central Oklahoma got back on the winning track with a 26-point win over Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night in Edmond. UCO had its 12-game win streak derailed by Missouri Southern in the previous game and Missouri Southern has handed UCO both of its losses this season.