By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State used a big second half run along with stifling defense and beat Washburn 71-58 Thursday at Gross Memorial Coliseum. With the win, the Tigers moved into sole possession of second place in the MIAA and are 14-4 overall and 9-3 in the MIAA. Washburn dropped to 12-6 overall and 8-4 in the MIAA.
The Tigers raced out to an early 10-2 lead. After a timeout, the Ichabods answered with a 23-7 run to go up with with just under nine minutes to play in the first half. The Tigers closed the half on a 7-0 run to get back within one at 35-34.
The teams traded baskets early in the second half until a Kaleb Hammeke 3-pointer knotted the score at 41-41. A three-point play gave Washburn the lead back momentarily, but Elijah Nnanabu canned a 3-pointer to tie the game 44-44. That would be the start of a 20-0 run by the Tigers to build a 17 point lead. Nnanabu scored 10 of the 20 points in the run which lasted 5:20.
The Ichabods turned the ball over six times during the decisive run and matched a season high with 21 in the game.
Hammeke led the Tigers with 22 points and dished out seven assists. Nnanabu added 20 points and pulled down a team-best seven rebounds. Shaun Riley scored eight points and had a team-high three blocked shots.
The Tigers finished with a season-high 10 threes led by Hammeke with six. All six of his field goals in the game were 3-pointers, while he went 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. Nnanabu was a perfect 2-of-2 beyond the arc. FHSU as a team finished 9-of-10 at the free-throw line and shot 44.1 percent overall.
Andrew Orr led the Washburn effort with 13 points, while freshman Jack Bachelor scored 11.
Fort Hays State is back at home Saturday to play Emporia State. The Hornets enter at 13-7 overall and 6-6 in the MIAA following a win Thursday at Nebraska-Kearney. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum, following the women's contest.
FHSU Sports Information contributed to this story