FHSU Athletics
Pittsburg State (16-9, 12-4 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (17-8, 10-6 MIAA)
Saturday, February 22 • 4 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Fort Hays State hosts Pittsburg State for Senior Day at Gross Memorial Coliseum on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. The matchup features two of the top four teams in the MIAA standings. FHSU enters at 17-8 overall and 10-6 in the MIAA, while PSU enters at 16-9 overall and 12-4 in the MIAA. Senior recognition for men's basketball will begin right after the conclusion of the women's game.
The Tigers have won two-straight entering Saturday, which includes a 70-59 win over Missouri Southern on Thursday night. Kaleb Hammeke (26) and Kyle Grill (20) each provided 20-point games for the Tigers as they held the Lions right on their nation's leading scoring defense average of 59 points per game. The Tigers are the only team in NCAA Division II allowing less than 60 points per game on average.
The Gorillas enter this contest on a 6-game winning streak. Their last loss was back on January 30 by five points to Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. All four of Pittsburg State's conference losses this year have been by six points or less. The Gorillas average 78.5 points per game, but also yield an average of 74.5 per game. PSU is just 1-4 this season when being held to less than 70.
Pittsburg State won all three meetings with Fort Hays State last year. The Gorillas won by 12 on their home floor, by four in Hays, and then by 18 at the MIAA Tournament. Both FHSU and PSU were NCAA Tournament participants last year in the Central Regional, but both fell in the opening round. The last 12 meetings have nearly split evenly with the Tigers winning seven and the Gorillas winning five.
Kaleb Hammeke continues to lead the Tigers at 15.7 points and 4.0 assists per game. He is 48 points shy of the 2,000-point mark for his career as the Tigers now have three regular season games remaining. Hammeke averaged 29 points over his last two games with a season-high 32-point performance at Newman and then a 26-point effort in the most recent contest against Missouri Southern.
Shaun Riley leads the Tigers in rebounding at 6.3 per game, while Kyle Grill is the only other Tiger besides Hammeke averaging double figures in scoring at 12 points per game.
Jordan Frison leads the Gorillas in scoring at 17.1 points per game and adds a team-best 6.3 assists per game. Avery Taggart (15.3) and R.J. Forney (11.7) also average double figures in scoring for the Gorillas.
Jaxon Vignery (manager) , R.J Crawford, Shaun Riley, Traejon Davis and Kaleb Hammeke will be the seniors recognized right after the women's contest.