By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS - Kaleb Hammeke hit two free throws with five seconds to play then the Tigers held off a couple shot attempts in the closing seconds to beat MSU Denver 68-66 Sunday afternoon at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Fort Hays State (3-1) led for the majority of the game but could never pull away from the Roadrunners (2-2) who hit a couple of free throws with five seconds to play in the first half to take a one-point lead into halftime.
Bjarni Jonsson put the Tigers in front for good on a jumper in the paint with 16:53 remaining which sparked an 8-0 run. Their lead grew to 10 with just over eight minutes to play.
The Roadrunners answered with a 7-0 run over the next two minutes to pull within three then later got as close as two with 4:35 remaining. The Tigers scored the next six to go up eight with 2:43 to go. but MSU Denver countered with another 7-0 run to pull within one with seven seconds to play.
Hammeke hit both ends of a 1-and-1 to push the lead to three. They then sent the Roadrunners to the free throw line with three seconds left. Brayden Maldonado hit the front end of the 1-and-1 then intentionally missed the second which MSU Denver rebounded but they missed a short jumper from the right baseline and a tip attempt at the horn.
Elijah Nnanabu led the Tigers in scoring with 14 points. Iyen Enaruna added 13 pionts, Hammke had 12 and Bjarni Jonsson 10. Enaruna grabbed a team-best six rebounds and had three steals, Hammeke dished out four assists and also had three steals.
UC Davis transfer Caleb McGill led the Roadrunners with 22 points. Jaden Kennis added 12, all in the second half and Tyrei Randall had 11, 12 below his season average.
UP NEXT
The Tiger men return to action on Tuesday night when they host Central Christian (Kan.) College at 7 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.