By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS - Fort Hays State hit a season-high 12 three-pointers and shot over 59-percent from the floor and beat Manhattan Christian College 95-40 Saturday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers have won five-straight to close out non-conference play 5-1.
FHSU scored 17-straight points to open the game, holding the Thunder scoreless for the first 6:32. Kaleb Hammeke scored 10 of the 17 and finished with a game-high 22 points. He also dished out a team-high seven assists in the game.
The Tigers built the lead to 31 on a Jaheim Holden 3-pointer with 7:51 in the first half and were up 28 at halftime.
The Tiger lead grew to 40 when Haggan Hilgendorf buried one of his career-high four 3-pointers with 7:50 to go. The Hastings, Nebraska sophomore scored a career-high 15.
Gilbert Peters added 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting and 2-of-2 at the free-throw line.
FHSU outrebounded MCC 42-27 and finished at 59.4 percent from the field, going exactly 19-of-32 from the field in each half, and 50 percent beyond the 3-point line (12-of-24).
Traymont Lindsey and Jamie Juncal led Manhattan Christian with eight points each. The Thunder shot just 28.8 percent from the field.
UP NEXT
The Tigers open MIAA play next week when they host Northeastern State on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.