FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State vs.
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Friday, November 10 - 7:45 p.m.
Emporia, Kan. - White Auditorium
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: The MIAA Network CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Fort Hays State vs.
Arkansas Tech
Saturday, November 11 - 5:45 p.m.
Emporia, Kan. - White Auditorium
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: The MIAA Network CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Fort Hays State Men's Basketball opens its 2023-24 regular season with a pair of games against opponents from the Great American Conference this Friday and Saturday in Emporia, Kan. The Tigers take on Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday at 7:45 p.m., then Arkansas Tech on Saturday at 5:45 p.m.
This will be the fourth time out of the last five seasons that FHSU opens its season with Southwestern Oklahoma State and Arkansas Tech. Emporia State has done the same as ESU will be the last of the four schools to host the season-opening weekend among the four teams. FHSU has seen success against SWOSU and ATU during this gathering between the teams, going 5-1 since 2019. FHSU defeated both teams in Russellville, Arkansas (2019) and Hays (2021) before splitting in Weatherford, Oklahoma (2022). Last year FHSU fell to SWOSU in the season opener by three points, but bounced back for a nine-point win over Arkansas Tech.
Emporia has been a place of success for the Tigers. FHSU has won nine of its last 10 games played in White Auditorium, all of which were against Emporia State. FHSU has won its last two games in the facility.
The Tigers are coming off a 21-9 season in 2022-23. They went 15-7 in MIAA to tie for third place with Emporia State. The Tigers saw their season close in the MIAA Tournament semifinals against Central Oklahoma. Northwest Missouri State, Central Oklahoma, and Emporia State are all among the NABC Top 25 to start the 2023-24 season, while Fort Hays State is receiving votes.
Southwestern Oklahoma State is in its first season under head coach Brett Weiberg. He is a familiar name to the Tigers after serving as head coach of Missouri Western for five seasons from 2013 to 2018. The Bulldogs are coming off a 12-16 record in 2022-23. Ben Smith is their top returning scorer at 15.0 points per game.
Arkansas Tech was picked second in the Great American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Wonder Boys went 16-15 overall last year. They are guided by Mark Downey, also a familiar name to the Tigers, after coaching Northeastern State for three seasons from 2017 to 2020. Taelon Peter is the top returning scorer for ATU at 15.5 points per game.
Kaleb Hammeke is the top returning scorer for the Tigers at 16.4 points per game. An All-MIAA First Team and NABC All-District Second Team selection for the Central Region as season ago, Hammeke also led the Tigers in assists at 3.6 per game, while shooting 81.2 percent from the free-throw line. Returning all-conference performers joining Hammeke are Elijah Nnanabu and Bjarni Jonsson, who each earned honorable mention selections last year. Jonsson was named to the conference's All-Defensive Team for a second straight year as well. Six newcomers join eight returners (six that played last year) to make up FHSU's 14-man roster.