By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS, Kan. – Bjarni Jonsson scored a game-high 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead Fort Hays State to a 63-44 win over Central Christian College in the Tigers home opener on Tuesday at Gross Memorial Colisuem.
The game was played in front of 2,905 mainly elementary and middle school students who were in attendance for the first Kid's Day as the Tigers improve to 3-1 on the season.
The Tigers raced out to an early 12-2 lead and led by 11 at halftime. They would outscore the Tigers out of McPherson 17-3 over the first five minutes of the second half to push their lead to 25.
Jonsson scored the first five points for the Tigers and came within a rebound of his second career double-double. Kaleb Hammeke added 12 points along with six rebounds and six assists. R.J. Crawford scored 10 and pulled down seven rebounds.
FHSU shot only 37.3 percent for the game but went 8-for-21 (38.1%) from beyond the arc while holding Central Christian to 27.9 percent shooting and 3-for-20 from 3-point range.
Jevarrick Butler led the Central Christian with 10 points. Andre Shelby added seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State hosts Manhattan Christian College Saturday night at 7 p.m. It's the second game of a doubleheader which follows the FHSU women's home opener against Tabor College at 5 p.m.