FHSU Athletics
Nebraska-Kearney (3-12, 1-8 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (11-5, 6-4 MIAA)
Saturday, January 14, 2023 - 4 p.m.
Hays, Kan. - Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3)
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Game Sponsor: Heartland Building Center
National Anthem: Lakeside Jubilation
Promotions: Senior Citizen Day – Anyone 55+ can purchase a $5 ticket at the door
Halftime: Styles Dance performance
Fort Hays State plays the first of two meetings with Nebraska-Kearney this season on Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. The Tigers enter at 11-5 overall, 6-4 in the MIAA, while the Lopers are 3-12 overall, 1-8 in the MIAA. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m., which follows the women's contest at 2 p.m.
The Tigers are looking to bounce back from a road loss at Missouri Western on Tuesday. The result pushed the Tigers down into fifth place in the MIAA standings, currently tied with Northeastern State. FHSU is one of five teams in the MIAA with 11 or more wins overall and also one of five currently six or more games above .500 overall.
Fort Hays State seeks a fourth straight win over Nebraska-Kearney. The Tigers swept the regular season series between the teams last year by scores of 64-46 in Hays and 71-56 in Kearney. The Tigers won the latter of two meetings during the 2020-21 season, 79-68 in Hays, which started their current three-game streak against the Lopers. FHSU leads the all-time series by 30 games, 84-54, which includes a strong 58-12 advantage in Hays.
Fort Hays State now leads NCAA Division II in scoring defense at 57.6 points allowed per game. The Tigers have held nine of 16 opponents this season inside of 60 points. Indiana (Pa.), the nation's top ranked team and still undefeated, slipped to second allowing 57.9 points per game. The MIAA has seven schools that sit among the top 25 in scoring defense at this point as Central Oklahoma and Northwest Missouri State join FHSU among the top 10. Fort Hays State is also among the top 10 in Division II for field goal percentage defense (39.1 percent), joining Central Oklahoma (37.3 percent) and Emporia State (38.8 percent).
Fort Hays State reached 650 wins inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, now in its 50th season of basketball, in the win over Pittsburg State last Saturday. FHSU is 650-126 all-time inside the coliseum, holding a staggering .838 win percentage in the venue. The coliseum opened prior to the 1973-74 season.
Kaleb Hammeke leads the Tigers in scoring at 16.0 points per game and ranks seventh in the MIAA. He is fifth in the MIAA in assists per game, averaging 3.8 per contest. Gabe Pieschl leads FHSU in rebounding, averaging 6.0 per game to rank 12th in the conference. The Tigers are the top free-throw shooting team in the MIAA at 78 percent and seven individuals are shooting 80 percent or better at the line this season.
Nebraska-Kearney has three players that account for over half of the team's scoring this season. Darrian Nebeker, the MIAA leader in assists per game (4.8) and minutes per game (36.9), leads the way at 16.5 points per game. Sean Evans (13.6) and Ryder Kirsch (10.0) also average double figures. Evans ranks fifth in the MIAA in 3-point field goals made with 35, while shooting 43.8 percent beyond the arc.