By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State scored the first 10 points and never trailed, beating Nebraska-Kearney 57-49 Saturday afternoon at the Health and Sports Center.
The Tigers improved to 13-4 overall and 8-3 in the MIAA while the Lopers lost their eighth-straight conference game and fell to 5-11 overall and 2-9 in the MIAA.
After FHSU jumped out to the 10-0 lead the Lopers answered with a 10-2 run to pull within 12-10. The Tigers scored the next seven. Bjarni Jonsson and Kaleb Hammeke hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Tigers a 12-point lead, but the Lopers hit a 3-point field goal just before the first half buzzer to pull within 29-20 at the halftime.
UNK hit a 3-point field goal to get within six and would outscore the Tigers 18-11 over the first eight minutes of the second half and got within 40-38 with 12:10 to play.
Jahiem Holden's 3-point field goal and Hammeke's 2-pointer gave the Tigers a seven-point cushion near the midway mark of the second half. An 8-0 Tiger run pushed their lead to 13 and ultimately snap the hopes of a Loper comeback.
After an Elijah Nnanabu basket started the run, Hammeke created a steal and raced to the other end for a dunk. Jonsson followed that with a steal and got the ball ahead to Shaun Riley for another fast-break dunk. Riley then capped the run with an offensive rebound stick back with 4:40 to play. The Tigers coasted to victory from that point.
FHSU struggled to just 36.1 percent shooting from the field overall and just 22.7 percent beyond the 3-point line, but managed to hold UNK to 35.1 percent overall. The Tigers held a 9-point advantage in points off turnovers and a 6-point advantage at the free-throw line. Despite their struggles, the Tigers did a good job taking care of the ball with just six turnovers to UNK's 10.
Hammeke led the Tigers with 15 points, Nnanabu added 11. Traejon Davis tied for the team lead in rebounds with Riley, each with eight.
D'Aundre Samuels led UNK with 14 points, followed by Damiri Lindo with 11.
The Tigers held an opponent under 50 points for the seventh time this year and remain unbeaten when doing so. FHSU continues to lead NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing 58.2 points per game.
At the midway point of MIAA play, Northwest Missouri State (9-2) continues to hold its one-game lead on Fort Hays State, Missouri Western, and Washburn in the standings.
Fort Hays State is back at home next week to host Washburn (Thur. Jan. 25) and Emporia State in the only regular season meetings between the teams.