FHSU Athletics
KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State fought an uphill battle all night and briefly held a pair of leads late before coming up one point short at Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday evening by a score of 68-67. The Tigers moved to 10-4 overall and 2-3 in the MIAA, while the Lopers moved to 8-8 overall and 1-4 in the MIAA.
After holding a 1-0 lead to start the game, the Tigers trailed the Lopers all the way from the 19:34 mark of the first half to the 1:34 mark of the second half. The Tigers had ample opportunities to overtake the Lopers throughout the second half as the game grinded into a possession-style battle, but struggled to find a go-ahead basket. FHSU cut the lead down to two five times and down to one five times as well before a pair of free throws by Jahvari Martino pushed the Tigers into the lead 65-64 with 1:34 to play.
The Lopers hit a pair of free throws to go back on top, but then Lucas Hammeke put the Tigers up for the final time at 67-66 with a layup at 1:08. Wade Williams of UNK made the game-winning layup with 54 seconds remaining as the Tigers turned the ball over on their next possession. FHSU got a stop on the defensive end, but Hammeke struggled to get a shot off in the Tigers' final scramble to the offensive end of the floor. His shot was just off the mark as time expired, leaving the Tigers a point short.
The free-throw line was a big difference in the game for UNK, where it went 19-of-22. FHSU was just 11-of-19 at the charity stripe, trailing the Lopers by eight points in that category. The Tigers hit two more field goals overall and three more 3-point field goals in the game, but it was not enough.
Hammeke finished with a game-high 21 points, while Dan Mukuna had 16 and Kyle Grill finished with 10. Martino pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
Anthony Swift led the Lopers with 17 points, while Williams had 13. Ja'Bryant Hill and Clayton Moore each had 12. Swift led UNK in rebounds with nine.
Fort Hays State plays at Emporia State on Thursday night (Jan. 8). Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at White Auditorium. The Tigers still seek their first road win in conference play.