FHSU Athletics
TOPEKA, Kan. – Fort Hays State fell 74-65 to No. 1 ranked Washburn on Thursday evening at Lee Arena. The Tigers held an early lead before the Ichabods moved in front for good with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. The Ichabods remained perfect on the season at 20-0 overall and 11-0 in the MIAA, while the Tigers went to 13-6 overall, 6-4 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State led by as many as seven points twice in the first half, the latest at 19-12, before Washburn went on an 11-1 run to take a three-point lead. Kaleb Hammeke leveled the score at 23-23 with a 3-point field goal, but Washburn followed with a 13-1 run to close out the first half. Washburn led by 12 at halftime, 36-24. FHSU struggled to just four points over the final seven and a half minutes of the first half.
Fort Hays State kept making little bursts at Washburn in the second half, cutting the lead inside 10 points seven times but could never get closer than six points, which happened on a Traejon Davis free throw with 5:16 to go. The final margin finished at nine points. FHSU was just the second team to keep the final margin inside of 10 against Washburn this season, with the closest being eight.
Kyle Grill scored a career-high 25 points on 11-of-22 shooting from the field. He drained three 3-point field goals. Kaleb Hammeke added 14 points, while Shaun Riley and Davis each had 10. Davis led the Tigers in rebounds with seven, while Riley had a team-high five assists.
Jack Bachelor led four Washburn scorers in double figures with 20 points. Jacob Hanna had 15, Brady Christiansen had 12, and Andrew Orr had 10.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State finishes a four-game road swing on Saturday at Central Missouri. Game time is set for 3 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo.