By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS - The Fort Hays State Tigers had three players score in double-figures and hit 10-straight free throws in the final minute and a half for a 65-55 win over Rogers State. The Tigers have won seven-straight and improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA. The Hillcats are now 5-3 and 1-1 in conference play.
Rogers State built a seven-point lead with 8:18 to play in the first half but the Tigers countered with a 13-4 run to take the lead back at 21-19 ona Kaleb Hammeke 3-pointer. Bjarni Jonnson scored on a fast-break layup to close out the half and give the Tigers a 23-21 lead.
The Tigers never relinquished the lead in the second half. Up by just two, Elihah Nnanabu hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to 38-33. RSU answered with three to pull back within two but Geoff Hamperian and Jaheim Holden followed with back-to-back threes to push the lead to eight with 10 minutes to play. The Hillcats never got closer than five points the rest of the way.
The FHSU lead reached 10 with 1:47 remaining. They would hit all of their free throws down to stretch to maintain the 10-point lead.
Hammeke led the Tigers with 23 points, which included a 14-of-17 effort at the free-throw line. Nnanabu added 15 on 6-of-9 shooting. Jonsson had his second-straight double-figure game with 10 points, eight of which came in the first half.
Joey Saracco led Rogers State with 20 points and 12 rebounds and was the only Hillcat player to reach double figures in scoring.
Both teams shot under 40 percent from the field and under 30 percent beyond the 3-point arc. FHSU made 11 more free throws than Rogers State. The Tigers also outscored RSU by 12 in points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State heads on the road next weekend to Missouri Western on Saturday and Northwest Missouri State on Sunday to continue MIAA play. Game times will be 3:30 p.m. each day.