HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State used some solid defense to hold Emporia State to their fewest points of the season and picked up their first conference while ending a four-game losing streak with a 56-46 victory Wednesday night at Gross Coliseum.
Fort Hays State (7-8, 1-6 MIAA) closed the first half on a 5-0 run to tie the game 22-22 at halftime then scored the first 10 points of the second half to go up 32-22 with 15:48 to play.
The Hornets (9-6, 3-3 MIAA) pulled within seven on two different occasions but back-to-back step-back threes from Nyjee Wright pushed the lead to 13 with 3:43 to play.
Jared Vitztum led the Tigers with 17 points and eight rebounds. Wright went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and scored all of his 11 points in the second half.
The Tigers won despite 34-percent shooting but held the Hornets to 33-percent shooting and a season low in points.