HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State survived a tight battle with Central Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 6) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers edged the Bronchos 84-82 to complete a perfect three-game homestand, moving to 7-8 on the season. UCO moved to 7-6.
Down just one point at halftime, the Tigers had to keep the Bronchos from running away with the second half a few times. UCO extended its lead to nine before the Tigers used a 9-2 burst to get the margin back to two. UCO pushed the lead back to seven three times before FHSU brought it back to two again with 8:46 to play. The UCO lead reached seven once more before the Tigers finally tied the game with an 8-1 run, capped with 4:46 remaining in the game.
Even with the surge, the Bronchos scored the next four and took a 73-69 lead, but the Tigers had one more push to flip the game in their favor. FHSU went on a 7-2 run to finally take their first lead of the second half, capped by a Kaleb Hammeke 3-point field goal putting the Tigers up 76-75. The teams then traded two points three straight trips before a Quinten Rock 3-pointer with a minute to go put the Tigers up two. FHSU got a defensive stop and Alvin Thompson streaked to the rim for a crucial layup with 27 seconds remaining to push the Tiger lead to four.
UCO cut the lead back to one on a Callen Haydon 3-point field goal with 15 seconds remaining and then Jared Vitztum was fouled with six seconds remaining. Vitztum hit one of two free throws, leaving the Tigers up by just two. Good defense saved the Tigers on the other end of the floor as UCO had to settle for a long desperation heave that was off the mark.
Rock led the Tigers with 23 points and five assists, hitting 5-of-10 attempts beyond the 3-point line. Vitztum and Thompson each had 13 points, while Hammeke and Jordan Pumphrey each chipped in 11.
Isaiah Wade led the UCO scoring effort with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Haydon finished with 19 points. They were the only two UCO players in double figures, though their bench combined for 25 points.
The Tigers will turn around and face UCO again four days from now in Edmond on Wednesday Feb. 10. It is a make-up contest from its original scheduled date of January 2. FHSU follows with two more on the same trip to Oklahoma facing Rogers State (Thursday) and Northeastern State (Saturday).
FHSU Athletics