Central Missouri (6-5, 3-4 MIAA) at
#22 (D2SIDA)/RV (NABC) Fort Hays State (10-2, 5-2 MIAA)
Thursday, January 6 • 7:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
LISTEN LIVE
Game Sponsor: Heartland Building Center
National Anthem: Fort Hays Singers
Promotions: Local Education Appreciation - Faculty and staff at all local Hays schools get one FREE ticket to the game
Halftime Performance: Tiger Debs
Fort Hays State Men's Basketball is back at home this week and preps to face Central Missouri on Thursday night in Hays. The Tigers are 10-2 overall, 5-2 in the MIAA, ranked No. 22 in the latest D2SIDA Top 25 Poll, and continue to receive votes in the NABC poll. The Mules enter at 6-5 overall and 3-4 in the MIAA. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm, which follows the women's contest at 5:30 pm.
The Tigers are coming off their first road loss of the season on Monday night as they fell 58-51 at Rogers State. The 51 points was a season low for the Tigers, while they also shot a season-low 31.9 percent from the field in that game. On the bright side, the Tigers defended well once again and held the opposition inside of 60 points for the 10th time in 12 games this season. FHSU continues to lead NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing just 55.9 points per game, one of only three teams in Division II holding their opposition to less than 60 points per game on average.
Central Missouri is coming off a pair of losses at home this past week to Washburn and Emporia State. Washburn won by two points on a stick-back bucket with two seconds remaining and then saw Emporia State hit 19 3-point field goals the following game in a blowout loss.
Fort Hays State and Central Missouri split last year's regular season series. The Mules won by seven in Warrensburg before the Tigers won by 36 points in Hays, the largest margin of victory for the Tigers in the series history.
Kaleb Hammeke leads the Tigers in scoring with a 15.3 points per game average. Jared Vitztum continues to average a double-double at 14.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Nyjee Wright adds 10.7 per game to give the Tigers three players averaging double figures. Geoff Hamperian is the top scorer off the bench for FHSU at 7.1 points per game.
Gaven Pinkley leads the Mules in scoring at 13.3 points per game, while Ja'Cor Nelson adds 11.5 points and a team-best 6.9 rebounds per game.
FHSU Athletics