KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State led for just over 35 minutes against Northwest Missouri State on Saturday at Municipal Auditorium. However, the 21st-ranked Tigers went cold from the field late and the 15th-ranked Bearcats slipped past with just over two minutes to play. Northwest Missouri State was able to escape with a 53-50 win, moving to 27-5 overall on the season. FHSU moved to 23-6 overall.
Fort Hays State came out with fierce intensity in the first half and built a 12-point lead at 21-9 just over nine minutes into the contest. However, the Bearcats withstood the early flurry from the Tigers and went on a 7-0 run to get back in the game. FHSU stretched its lead to 11 with 3:47 remaining before the half, but NWMSU closed the half on a 7-2 run to get the lead down to six at halftime, 29-23.
Northwest Missouri managed to whittle the lead down to just two with 18:09 to go, but Nyjee Wright answered with a big 3-point jumper. Moments later, a hook shot from Jared Vitztum and another three from Wright pushed the Tiger lead out to eight just over four minutes into the second half. The Bearcats kept chipping away and got the lead down to one with 11:22 remaining, but Bjarni Jonsson had the answer with another big 3-point make.
The Tigers used a 6-0 run to get their lead back to eight with eight minutes to go, fueled by baskets from Vitztum, Wright, and Kaleb Hammeke. But that unfortunately would be the last time FHSU scored in the game. They held a 50-42 lead with eight minutes to go.
The Tiger defense has been solid all season, limiting their opponents to less than 60 points in a game 22 times going into Saturday. They did it again, but they could not hit just a few shots they needed down the stretch the hold the defending national champions off.
Northwest Missouri State found a way to get to the free-throw line six times between the 6:13 and 3:18 marks, going 5-of-6 in that stretch. Throw in a two-point field goal during that stretch and the Tiger lead sat at just one with three minutes to play. After an offensive foul by the Tigers, the Bearcats broke through when Trevor Hudgins drove to the bucket for a layup that put them up 51-50 with two minutes to go. The Tigers let the Bearcats wind the clock down late and got the missed shot they needed, but could not secure a rebound with about 10 seconds remaining and the loose ball was finally secured with three seconds remaining by the Bearcats. Byron Alexander hit a pair of free throws to give the Bearcats a three-point lead.
The Tigers were able to get the ball over half court on the inbounds and called timeout to set up a final chance. Jonsson's last second-heave at the buzzer was just long off the back iron as the Bearcats won the intense battle in front of nearly 3,000 fans.
The Tigers outscored the Bearcats by 14 on shots from the field, going 22-of-52 from the field. The Bearcats were just 16-of-42 and had two less 3-point field goals than the Tigers. But the Bearcats shot 20 free throws and made 17, while the Tigers did not attempt any free throws throughout the game. That was enough for the Bearcats to overcome the large deficit in points on field goals.
Vitztum and Wright finished with 12 points each to lead the Tigers, while Jonsson and Gabe Pieschl each had 10. Vitztum led the Tigers in rebounds with eight and Hammeke dished out a team-high six assists.
Hudgins led NWMSU with 13 points, although the Tigers gave him fits from beyond the 3-point line once again where he was just 1-of-9. Wes Dreamer also reached double figures with 12.
The Tigers now await their fate on Sunday night during the NCAA Selection Show at 9:30 pm. With Minnesota State-Moorhead already stealing one of eight tournament bids with the NSIC automatic qualifier, and both GAC teams that were inside the top eight of the region rankings already eliminated from their conference tournament, the Tigers are hoping that their tremendous 23-6 season is enough to get an at-large bid. Northwest Missouri State and Washburn will battle on Sunday for the MIAA's automatic qualifier.