FHSU Athletics
(RV) Fort Hays State (15-4, 7-3 MIAA)
vs. #1 Washburn (20-0, 10-0 MIAA)
Thursday, January 29 • 7:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Game Sponsor: High Plains Farm Credit
National Anthem: Great Bend Choir
Promotions: Student Night - Plenty of prizes for FHSU students in attendance
Fort Hays State prepares to take on the No. 1 team in the country on Thursday night when it plays host to Washburn. The Kansas Day matchup between Kansas schools features the top two teams in the MIAA standings, set to tipoff at 7:30 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. The Ichabods are still unbeaten this season, 20-0 overall and top the MIAA standings at 10-0, while the Tigers enter at 15-4 overall and 7-3 in the MIAA, currently in second place.
This will be the first time Fort Hays State hosts an NABC No. 1 ranked team at home in its NCAA Division II history. The Tigers have faced an NABC No. 1 six times prior in their D2 history, but all six were true away games. The most recent was against a No. 1 ranked Washburn team last season on January 30 in Topeka, which the Ichabods won 74-65. The Tigers' only win against an NABC No. 1 team was during the 2009-10 season when they knocked off Central Missouri 81-71 in Warrensburg. The Tigers were ranked No. 13 nationally in that meeting.
The Tigers are looking to snap a three-game losing string to the Ichabods, which started last season. This will be the fourth-straight meeting the Ichabods hold a top-3 ranking nationally in the NABC Poll when playing the Tigers. Last year, the Ichabods were ranked No. 3 in the meeting in Hays, winning 71-57, then won the aforementioned game where they were ranked No. 1 in Topeka. The Ichabods won the first meeting between the teams this season in Topeka while holding the No. 2 ranking and won 73-66. Fort Hays State's last win over Washburn was in 2023-24 in Hays by a score of 71-58. Washburn was a national semifinalist last year in the NCAA Tournament, while FHSU made the NCAA Tournament as well and fell in the opening round.
In Fort Hays State's last three wins over Washburn, the Tigers held the Ichabods inside of 60 points each time. However, Washburn has scored at least 70 points in its last nine wins against FHSU. The Tigers and Ichabods are two of the best defensive teams in the nation as FHSU ranks second nationally in scoring defense at 59.9 points per game allowed, while Washburn is seventh at 61.8 points per game. FHSU is just 0.1 points per game behind national leader Benedict, which allows 59.8 per game.
Fort Hays State will have a challenge to slow down the MIAA's top offense, as Washburn averages 89.2 points per game. The Ichabods own the best field goal percentage in the country at 52.8 percent. However, the Tigers limited the Ichabods to a season-low 37.9 percent in Topeka earlier this year. Washburn's 73 points in that game was also its lowest scoring output of the season.
Fort Hays State has the best 3-point field goal percentage defense in the nation, allowing just a 25 percent success rate beyond the arc. They have held opponents inside 30 percent in 15 of 19 contests this season. Washburn shot just 15.8 percent beyond the arc against FHSU at home earlier this year, also a season low.
Fort Hays State held a one-point lead at halftime and had a lead with eight minutes to go before Washburn eventually took the first meeting this season. The free-throw line was the difference in the game, where Washburn had a 12-point advantage, going 26-of-36 compared to FHSU's 14-of-17.
This will be the third game of a four-game homestand for the Tigers. They won the first two games last week over Rogers State and Central Oklahoma, both by five points. It took overtime to decide the game with Rogers State. Washburn is coming off wins over Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western at home last week.
Dan Mukuna continues to lead FHSU in scoring (18.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 rpg). Kyle Grill (13.6 ppg) and Jahvari Martino (11.5 ppg) also average double figures in scoring for the Tigers. Lucas Hammeke is the top assister for FHSU at 3.8 per game, and he led the Tigers in scoring in the first meeting against Washburn this season with a career-high 24 points.
Dillon Claussen leads Washburn at 16.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Jack Bachelor adds 14.8 points and 4.6 assists per game. Bryson Smith, who averages 10.2 points per game, led the Ichabods in the first meeting against FHSU this season with 22 points.