FHSU Athletics
NCAA Central Regional Quarterfinals
Fort Hays State (22-9) vs.
No. 17/20 MSU Moorhead (23-8)
Saturday, March 15 – 2:30 p.m.
Topeka, Kan. – Lee Arena
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Fort Hays State Men's Basketball will make its 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday when it plays No. 17/20 ranked MSU Moorhead. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Lee Arena in Topeka. The Tigers are the No. 7 seed in the Central Regional field, while the Dragons are the No. 2 seed. FHSU is 22-9 for the season, while MSU Moorhead is 23-8.This matchup pits a pair of conference tournament champions against each other. FHSU won the MIAA Tournament, while MSU Moorhead won the NSIC Tournament, both punching their tickets to the national tournament with automatic bids.
Fort Hays State enters the tournament on a three-game win streak, all on its run through the MIAA Tournament. The Tigers defeated Central Missouri, Rogers State, and Central Oklahoma to claim the conference tournament title. This will be the ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Mark Johnson. The Tigers are in the national tournament for a second-straight year.
MSU Moorhead comes into the national tournament on an 11-game win streak. The Dragons are appearing in the NCAA Tournament for a fifth-straight year and it is their ninth appearance overall. MSU Moorhead started the year 10-7, but has gone 13-1 since. The Dragons won their opening round game of the Central Regional in the NCAA Tournament last year over Pittsburg State, but fell to eventual national champion Minnesota State in the semifinals.
Fort Hays State is looking for its first win in an NCAA Tournament since 2011. The Tigers are 3-8 in the national tournament under head coach Mark Johnson. They have reached the regional semifinals three times in his tenure.
This is the second meeting ever between FHSU and MSU Moorhead in men's basketball. The Dragons took the only meeting back during the 2014-15 season, a neutral site meeting early that year in Maryville, Mo.
The Tigers are 1-2 against nationally ranked teams this season. The two losses were to a top-5 ranked Washburn team, but the win was over a No. 22/25 ranked MSU Denver squad back in December.
With the win in the MIAA Tournament championship game, Kaleb Hammeke and Traejon Davis each notched their 100th win in a Tiger jersey. The Tigers have won at least 21 games each of the last four seasons. Both are playing a fifth season this year.Fort Hays State has reached 22 wins in a season for the eighth time under head coach Mark Johnson.
Kaleb Hammeke was the MIAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in helping the Tigers to the conference tournament title. He averaged 20.7 points per game over FHSU's three games in the tournament. Kyle Grill also earned all-tournament team honors.
Hammeke, Grill, and Shaun Riley all earned MIAA postseason honors for the 2024-25 season. Hammeke became the first-ever five-time All-MIAA selection, earning first-team honors for the third-straight season. Grill was an honorable mention selection and Riley was named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team along with Hammeke. Hammeke leads the Tigers at 16.5 points and 4.2 assists per game, while Riley leads in rebounding at 6.2 per game. Grill is the only other Tiger besides Hammeke averaging double figures in scoring at 11.6 points per game.
The Tigers continue to own the best scoring defense in NCAA Division II at 59.6 points per game allowed. FHSU has held the opposition to 60 or less points 17 games this season, including eight games of 50 or less.
Carson Johnson leads the Dragons in scoring at 20.1 points per game. Logan Kinsey (15.0), Jacob Beeninga (14.2), Jacob Jennison (11.9), and JaMir Price (11.2) all average double figures as well.