FHSU Athletics
MSU Denver (2-1) at
Fort Hays State (2-1)
Sunday, November 20 - 2 PM
Hays, Kan. - Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio - KJLS (103.3)
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Fort Hays State Men's Basketball will face an old rival from their days in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference on Sunday (Nov. 20), taking on MSU Denver. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Both teams enter the contest at 2-1 overall.
Fort Hays State and MSU Denver have not met since the 2005-06 season, which was FHSU's last in the RMAC. The last meeting was in the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament that year with the Roadrunners claiming an eight-point win in Pueblo, Colo. The Tigers won both regular season meetings that year, a season in which the Tigers finished 27-4 overall and reached No. 1 in the national rankings during the regular season. That was the best record in a season recorded by the Tigers under head coach Mark Johnson, who was just in his fifth season of what is now an impressive 22-year tenure. Both FHSU and MSU Denver were often among the nation's best teams in Division II during Fort Hays State's tenure in the RMAC. MSU Denver owns a 14-11 advantage in the all-time series, but FHSU has won the last two meetings in Hays.
The Tigers are coming off a 90-59 win over Bethel College on Thursday night in their home opener. Jaheim Holden broke out with a 21-point performance off the bench, while Elijah Nnanabu produced a new career high 19 points. Nnanabu upped his scoring average to 11.7 per game for the season and Kaleb Hammeke lead the Tigers at 16 points per game.
Fort Hays State has shot free throws very well through the first three games, 54-of-61 as a team for an 88.5 percent success rate. That ranks fourth in NCAA Division II for the young season. Five Tigers are still at 100 percent for the season.
The Tigers held all three of their opponents so far this season inside 60 points. Opponents are averaging just 55.7 points per game. The Tigers are outrebounding opponent by an average of 6.7 per game.
MSU Denver fell in its season opener to Oklahoma Christian before winning its last two against Arkansas-Fort Smith and Barclay College (Kan.). The Roadrunners were supposed to play Barclay in their home arena on Friday evening, but had to play the game at Colorado Christian's home venue since MSU Denver is hosting a regional of the NCAA Tournament in volleyball. Tyrei Randall leads the Roadrunners in scoring at 24 points per game, while Jaden Kennis and Caleb McGill each average double figures as well.