FHSU Athletics
Northwest Missouri State (8-5, 1-1 MIAA)
at Fort Hays State (8-3, 0-2 MIAA)
Thursday, January 1 • 7:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Game Sponsor: Redeem Designs
Promotions: Retro t-shirt giveaway before the game / Retro concession prices on select items ($1 popcorn and $1 small drinks)
Fort Hays State Men's Basketball begins the long 17-game stretch of conference games for the remainder of the regular season on New Year's Day when they play host to Northwest Missouri State. Tipoff is set at 7:30 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Both teams enter with eight wins overall for the season, FHSU at 8-3 and NWMSU at 8-5. The Tigers are seeking their first win of the season in MIAA play.
Fort Hays State enters this game on a three-game win streak, all in non-conference play. The Tigers started the string with a 19-point win over William Jewell at home, a four-point win over MSU Denver on the road, and then an impressive 60-point win over Regis on the road. The 60-point win at Regis was the largest margin of victory in program history in a true away contest. It tied the fifth-largest margin of victory all-time against collegiate opponents as the Tigers have defeated six other schools by at least 60 in their home venues. Three of the 60-plus point victories have been against schools from Colorado and all three are currently members of the RMAC.
Fort Hays State dropped its first two games of MIAA play on the road at Central Missouri and Washburn. Both have started the season strong as Washburn is still unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the nation, while Central Missouri is 11-4 overall and receiving votes in the latest national poll.
Northwest Missouri State is coming off a nine-point loss at William Jewell back on December 20. The Bearcats have been in a win-loss pattern over their last eight games, going 4-4. They picked up a 77-70 win over Emporia State at home back on December 4 to even their conference record at 1-1, as they lost by 22 to Missouri Western in the game prior on December 2.
In the 60-point win over Regis, Fort Hays State hit a season-high 17 3-point field goals. It was the first time this year they made at least 10 in a game. It was just two shy of the school record for most made in a game. Jahvari Martino was blazing hot from long range on the two-game trip to Denver before Christmas, going 9-of-13 beyond the arc (.692). He has made multiple 3-point field goals in three-straight games and scored a season-high 20 points at both MSU Denver and Regis.
Dan Mukuna continues to lead the Tigers at 18.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He led the Tigers with 25 and 21 points on the trip to Denver before the holiday break, averaging 23 points for the week. He owns the second-best field goal percentage in the MIAA at 67 percent, which ranks eighth nationally. Kyle Grill (13.7) and Martino (11.5) also average double figures in scoring for FHSU. Lucas Hammeke averages 3.5 assists per game.
Aiden Gair, Royce Williams, and Matthew Mayes are all averaging just north of 13 points per game for the Bearcats. Williams is the team leader in rebounds at 5.8 per game, while Gair dishes out 3.1 assists per game.