FHSU Athletics
Central Oklahoma (12-9, 5-4 MIAA)
at Fort Hays State (14-4, 6-3 MIAA)
Saturday, January 24 • 2 p.m. (NEW TIME)
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Game Sponsor: Domino's Pizza
Promotions: FHSU Cheer Camp (women's halftime) / FHSU Foundation 20-year donor recognition
Fresh off an exciting overtime win on Thursday night, Fort Hays State returns to action on its home floor on Saturday at 2 p.m. when it plays host to Central Oklahoma. The Tigers enter at 14-4 overall and 6-3 in the MIAA, currently tied for second in the MIAA standings with Central Missouri. The Bronchos are 12-9 overall and 5-4 in the MIAA.
The 2 p.m. tipoff is a new start time due to the winter weather affecting the center of the United States this weekend.
The last time FHSU and UCO met was in the MIAA Tournament championship game last year, which the Tigers won by the slimmest of margins, 72-71. A defensive stop by the Tigers on the final possession of the game secured a trip to the NCAA Tournament with the conference's automatic bid. The Bronchos won the only regular season meeting between the teams last year in Edmond by a score of 75-65. FHSU has won three of the last four meetings with UCO overall going back to the 2023-24 season.
The Tigers defeated Rogers State on Thursday night, 80-75 in overtime, to keep pace for second place in the MIAA standings with Central Missouri. Neither FHSU or RSU led by more than six points throughout the entire contest. Kyle Grill (22), Jahvari Martino (20), Muhamed Kante (19) and Dan Mukuna (14) produced 75 of Fort Hays State's 80 points. Kante's 19 points was a new career high for him, passing his old high of 13. He had 15 of the 19 in the first half. Grill's 22 points and Martino's 20 points both matched their season highs. Mukuna produced his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Central Oklahoma is coming off an 81-72 loss at Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night. Josh Nwankwo of UCO had 33 points despite the loss, while Matthew Willenborg added a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Willenborg leads the MIAA in both scoring (21.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.2 rpg). The Bronchos are 2-4 in true away games so far this season.
Fort Hays State enters Saturday on a four-game win streak overall. The Tigers lead NCAA Division II in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing just a 25.1 percent success rate beyond the arc. They rank second in the nation in scoring defense overall at 60.3 points per game allowed. The Tigers rank eighth nationally in field goal percentage defense overall with opponents shooting 38.5 percent for the season.
Thursday's win made the Tigers 30-15 overall in overtime games during Mark Johnson's 25-season tenure as head coach. FHSU has won its last three overtime contests going back to the 2023-24 season, all inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Mukuna continues to lead the Tigers at 18.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Grill (13.5) and Martino (11.7) also average double figures in scoring. Lucas Hammeke leads the Tigers in assists at 3.8 per game.