WICHITA, Kan. – Entering Saturday’s regular season finale, the Fort Hays State Tigers needed a win and a Pittsburg State loss to get into next week’s MIAA Tournament. The Tigers did their part beating Newman 79-69 but didn’t get the help from help from Central Missouri who lost to the Gorillas keeping the Tigers out of the conference tournament for the first time since joining the league in 2006.
The Tigers (14-14, 7-12 MIAA) led by four at halftime then pushed the lead to 11 with just under six minutes to play. A 12-2 run by the Jets (9-19, 3-16 MIAA) closed the gap to 66-65 with 2:39 left but the Tigers scored the next 10 to push the lead back to double-figures.
Newman was assessed two flagrant and two technical fouls during the Tigers final push resulting in 12 free throws. FHSU only hit six of them but it was enough to hold the Jets off.
After shooting 61-percent in the first half the Tigers finished at 49-percent for the game including 10-of-23 from beyond the arc and 21-of-30 from the free throw line.
Jared Vitztum led the Tigers with 24 points, half of them at the free throw line. Wichita native Nyjee Wright went 4-for-6 from three and scored 18. Devin Davis scored all of his 15 points in the second half. Aaron Nicholson added 13 in his final game in a Tiger uniform.
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