FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball battled its way to an 80-75 overtime win over Rogers State on Thursday evening (Jan. 22). Down four points with 1:40 to play, the Tigers found a way to get the game tied and force overtime. FHSU went on to lead all the way through the extra period, hitting key free throws down the stretch to seal the win. FHSU is now 14-4 overall and 6-3 in the MIAA, while Rogers State moved to 11-7 overall and 5-4 in the MIAA.
The game was tight all the way throughout. Six points was the largest lead held by either team for the night. Rogers State's biggest lead of six occurred twice late in the first half, while FHSU eventually led by six when they opened overtime on a 6-0 run.
The lead changed hands three times and the game was tied six times in the first half before Rogers State led 37-34 at halftime. Muhamed Kante had the hot hand early with 15 points, which passed his previous career high as a Tiger by halftime, keeping the Tigers close. Kyle Grill also had a big first half with 13 points, which included a thunderous dunk.
The Tigers finally reeled the Hillcats back in, tying the game 45-45 with 13:28 to play. Neither team would lead by more than one possession from that point up to the 8:56 mark, when Jahvari Martino cashed a 3-point play to put the Tigers in front by four, capping a quick 5-0 burst. A couple minutes later, Martino drilled a 3-point field goal in the corner and was fouled, then converted a four-point play to put the Tigers back up four.
The Hillcats would not go away and eventually used a 4-0 burst of their own inside of the 3:00 mark to take a four-point advantage. However, the aforementioned 4-0 burst by the Tigers in the final 1:40 leveled the game again for the 13th time overall. Lucas Hammeke had a chance for the game winner in regulation, but his floater in the lane was tipped by Caden Fry to knock the shot off course.
After going without scoring in the first half, Dan Mukuna started to find his offensive rhythm late. He had four of the six points that pushed the Tigers in front by six to start overtime. However, a 5-0 burst by Rogers State got the lead back down to one. But a team effort of Martino, Mukuna, and Kante all going 2-of-2 at the free-throw line in the final minute and a half secured the victory for the Tigers.
Grill tied his season high in points with 22, going 8-of-15 from the field. Kante was a perfect shooting the ball for the night, 7-of-7 from the field with one 3-point field goal, and 4-of-4 at the line for high new career high of 19 points. Martino reached his season-high in scoring for a third time this year, dropping 20 points. Mukuna finished with his fourth double-double of the season, a 14-point, 11-rebound performance. The quartet of Tigers scored 93.8 percent of the teams points (75), with Eli Lawson being the only other Tiger to score with five points. Kante produced a team-high three assists to go with his flawless shooting night.
Rogers State got big double-double performances from Caden Fry with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Jabryn Anderson had 13 points and 10 assists. Anderson was the table setter for the Hillcat offense as they recorded the highest shooting percentage against the Tigers so far this season at 49.1 percent, despite the loss. They also snapped FHSU's 10-game streak of holding opponents inside of 30 percent beyond the 3-point line, finishing at 31.6 percent. Benard Omooria added 16 points and Tim Jordan Jr. had 13.
Mark Johnson improved his overtime win ratio to right at 2:1, now 30-15 in his career in overtime contests. The Tigers have won three-straight overtime games going back to the 2023-24 season. It was their first-ever overtime contest with the Hillcats, as they upped their lead in the young series history to 7-5. The Tigers have won three-straight against the Hillcats overall.
Fort Hays State will host Central Oklahoma on Saturday (Jan. 24). The Bronchos are coming off a loss at Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night and enter at 12-9 overall and 5-4 in the MIAA. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.