FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State (13-5, 6-3 MIAA) at
#1/1 Washburn (19-0, 10-0 MIAA)
Thursday, January 30 • 7:30 p.m.
Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Fort Hays State continues its four-game stretch of road contests on Thursday when it takes on No. 1/1 ranked Washburn in Topeka, Kan. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Lee Arena. The game features a battle of the first and second-place teams in the MIAA. FHSU enters at 13-5 overall, 6-3 in the MIAA, while Washburn is still undefeated at 19-0 overall and 10-0 in the MIAA.
Washburn won the first meeting of the season with FHSU in Hays by a score of 71-57 back on December 7. The Ichabods were ranked No. 3 (NABC)/No. 4 (D2CSC) at the time before eventually ascending all the way to the top of the national rankings. This is the third-straight week the Ichabods are ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Fort Hays State will be playing an NABC No. 1 ranked team for the sixth time in its NCAA Division II history. This will be the first time of the six that Washburn holds that billing. All six games against NABC No. 1 teams have been on the road. FHSU's only win over a No. 1 ranked team was during the 2009-10 season when they defeated Central Missouri in Warrensburg. The Tigers were ranked No. 13 nationally during that meeting. The other four games against No. 1 teams were a loss at Metro State (now MSU Denver) back in 2003-04 and then three losses to Northwest Missouri State (2017, 2021, 2022).
Fort Hays State has knocked off a Top 5 ranked Washburn team before. During the 1996-97 season, the Tigers knocked off a No. 3 ranked Ichabod squad in Hays when the Tigers were the nation's top ranked team. FHSU is 1-3 against NABC Top 25 ranked Ichabod teams in its NCAA Division II history.
Washburn has been a thorn in Fort Hays State's side in recent years, winning eight of the last 10 meetings between the schools in men's basketball. Washburn won the last meeting between the teams in Topeka during the 2022-23 season by a score of 74-64. Fort Hays State's last win in Topeka was during the 2021-22 season by a score of 68-58.
Fort Hays State and Washburn have two highly storied histories in men's basketball as FHSU ranks sixth among NCAA Division II in all-time wins with 1,706, while Washburn ranks seventh with 1,695. Both schools won a pair of NAIA national titles, while FHSU has one NCAA Division II national title and Washburn has one runner-up finish in its Division II history.
Fort Hays State is coming off a loss at Central Oklahoma this past Saturday. The Bronchos were the first team to shoot over 50 percent from the field against the Tigers this season, largely fueled by starting the game 11-of-12 from the field. FHSU is now 3-3 in true road games this season.
Last week, Washburn went on the road to defeat Northwest Missouri State 80-69 and then Missouri Western 85-52. The Ichabods have scored at least 70 points in all 19 of their regular season games so far.
Kaleb Hammeke leads the Tigers in scoring at 15.0 points per game. He also hands out a team-best 4.5 assists per game. Hammeke ranks 11th in the MIAA in scoring and fourth in assists. Kyle Grill (11.9) and Shaun Riley (10.4) also average double figures in scoring for the Tigers. Riley leads in rebounding at 6.9 per game.
All five of Washburn's starters average at least 9.0 points per game, led by Brayden Shorter at 16.9 per game. Shorter had 26 points in the first meeting with the Tigers this season in Hays, which is his season high reached twice.
Fort Hays State has the top scoring defense in NCAA Division II at 59.6 points allowed per game. The Tigers are the only team in NCAA Division II holding opponents inside of 60 points on average. Washburn owns the top scoring offense in the MIAA at 87 points per game. FHSU held Washburn to its second-fewest amount of points in a game this season (71) in Hays earlier this year. Fort Hays State leads the MIAA in fewest turnovers per game (9.4), while Washburn creates the most turnovers per game (16.0) in the MIAA.