HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State battled toe-to-toe with the 23rd-ranked Rogers State Hillcats Thursday night but couldn’t overcome poor 3-point shooting and lost 74-68. The Tigers (12-13, 5-11 MIAA) have lost two-straight following a season-long five-game win streak. The Hillcats (21-5, 13-4 MIAA) have won 10 of their last 11 and moved into second place in the MIAA following Missouri Southern’s last second loss at No. 1 Northwest Missouri State.
After a back-and-forth start to the game, the Tigers built several six-point leads, the last coming with 7:08 to play in the first half. Rogers State answered with a 16-5 run to go up five and led 39-36 at halftime.
The Hillcats scored the first five points of the second half to build their biggest lead of the game at 44-36. The Tigers scored the next seven to pull within one and eventually took the lead back at 52-49 on an Aaron Nicholson three-point play with 12:14 left.
Rogers State scored the next six points and took the lead back for good. The Tigers hit only one of their next 10 shots over the next eight minutes but stayed in the game at the free throw line, shooting 35 in the game.
The Tigers shot 46-percent for the game but went 1-for-14 from three-point range and were 0-for-9 from distance in the second half.
The Hillcats shot 45-percent but went 9-for-19 from distance and 19-of-22 from the free throw line.
Nyjee Wright led the Tigers with 17 points. Jared Vitztum added 12 and 10 rebounds and Gilbert Peters scored 10.
Marques Sumner hit five 3s and led the Hillcats with 23 points.