FHSU Athletics
(RV) Missouri Western (11-3, 3-0 MIAA)
at Fort Hays State (9-3, 1-2 MIAA)
Saturday, January 3 • 2 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
MIAA Game of the Week • 38 The Spot (Kansas City area)
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Game Sponsor: Domino's Pizza
Promotions: Big Creek Crossing Baby Crawl at halftime / Mascot Day - Victor E. Tiger and his mascot buddies hang out for pictures, high fives, and fun throughout the games.
Fort Hays State rides a four-game win streak entering its contest with Missouri Western on Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff for the men's contest is set for 2 p.m., which will be before the women's game, due to the men's game featured as the MIAA Game of the Week on 38 The Spot in the Kansas City area. FHSU enters at 9-3 overall and 1-2 in the MIAA, while Missouri Western is receiving votes in the latest national poll and holds a record of 11-3 overall and 3-0 in the MIAA.
The Tigers are coming off a 67-50 win over Northwest Missouri State on Thursday night for their first win in MIAA play. The Tigers held Northwest Missouri State to just 24.5 percent shooting from the field, a new season low by an opponent this year. It thrust the Tigers up into the national lead in field goal percentage defense (.363). They are looking to get back to level in conference play on Saturday.
As the national leader in scoring defense the last two years, the Tigers are lurking just below current national leader Northern Michigan (57.3 ppg) in the category. FHSU is allowing just 58.1 points per game as they lowered their average in the win over Northwest Missouri State. In FHSU's current four-game win streak, they have held the opposition to less than 60 three times and 50 or less two times.
The Tigers brace themselves for another strong offensive team as the Griffons enter averaging 84.6 points per game. The Griffons have scored at least 71 points in 13 of their 14 games this season and 69 is their season low, which occurred in a one-point win over Augustana (S.D.). The Griffons have scored at least 79 points in their last 11 games.
The Griffons are coming off a 104-80 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday evening in Kearney. The 104 points was a new season high for the Griffons, though they have scored at least 90 in a game five times this year. MWSU has yielded 80 or more points in its last three games, including 100 in a loss at Truman back on December 20.
Fort Hays State owns a 2:1 success ratio in the all-time series with Missouri Western with a record of 40-20. The Tigers won the last meeting between the teams last season by a score of 61-50 in Hays. The Tigers and Griffons split the regular season series in 2024-25, with the Griffons claiming a 47-44 win on their home floor. However, the Tigers have held the Griffons to 50 or less points in the last five meetings. The Tigers went 4-1 in that span. FHSU is 13-2 at home against Missouri Western under head coach Mark Johnson.
Dan Mukuna continues to lead the Tigers at 18.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He led FHSU with 22 points in the win over Northwest Missouri State on Thursday night. He has scored at least 20 points in seven games this season, including the last three contests. Kyle Grill is adding 13.3 points per game and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds against NWMSU. Lucas Hammeke leads the Tigers in helpers, averaging 3.3 assists per game.
Jahvari Martino has scored in double figures four-straight games, doing so in a mirroring fashion. He had 11 against William Jewell, 20 at MSU Denver, 20 at Regis, and 11 against Northwest Missouri State. He is averaging 11.4 points per game this season.
Noah King leads the MWSU offensive attack at 18.1 points per game, riding an eight-game streak of scoring in double figures. All five of MWSU's regular starters average double figures in scoring.