FHSU Athletics
Missouri Southern (11-13, 6-9 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (16-8, 9-6 MIAA)
Thursday, February 20 • 7:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
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Fort Hays State opens its final regular homestand of the season on Thursday when it plays host to Missouri Southern. It will be the first of three-straight home games over seven days for FHSU. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers enter at 16-8 overall and 9-6 in the MIAA, while the Lions are 11-13 overall and 6-9 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State put an end to a four-game skid in road games this past Saturday by defeating Newman University in Wichita by a score of 76-68 this past Saturday. Kaleb Hammeke scored a season-high 32 points in the win, his first game of 30 or more points since the 2022-23 season. In the process, he upped his career scoring total to 1,926 points. It was the only meeting of the regular season between FHSU and Newman.
Missouri Southern has split its last four games played. Most recently the Lions fell at Missouri Western last Saturday by 12 points. Two of Missouri Southern's three wins in conference road games this season have been by two points or less, which includes a 69-67 win at Northwest Missouri State last week.
Fort Hays State has won the last three meetings with Missouri Southern going back to the 2022-23 season. FHSU swept the regular season series last year with an 18-point win in Joplin and then a tight two-point win in overtime in Hays. The Lions won the 2022-23 meeting between the teams in Hays. FHSU has won seven of the last nine meetings overall.
With his 32-point performance at Newman, Hammeke upped his team-leading scoring average to 15.3 points per game. He also adds 4.1 assists per game. Kyle Grill is the only other Tiger averaging double figures in scoring at 11.7 points per game. Shaun Riley leads the team in rebounding at 6.5 per game and is just shy of double figures in scoring at 9.6 points per game.
Fort Hays State continues to lead NCAA Division II in scoring defense at 59.0 points per game. The Tigers rank fourth nationally in fewest turnovers per game (9.3) and they rank eighth in opponent field goal percentage (.394).
Martin Macenis leads the Lions in scoring at 14.8 points per game, followed by Jaden Taylor (13.3) and Tyrique Brooks (12.2). The Lions average 78.3 points per game and have been held inside of 65 points just twice this season.