FHSU Athletics
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball fell in its conference opener on Thursday night at Central Missouri. Both teams entered the game receiving votes in the NABC Top 25 Poll and the Mules emerged victorious 64-50 with a hot stretch in the second half where they created separation. UCM is now 8-2 overall and 1-0 in the MIAA, while FHSU went to 5-2 overall and 0-1 in the MIAA.
The teams played to a 14-14 tie by the second media break of the first half. Fort Hays State used an 8-0 run to go up eight (22-14) out of the break, their largest lead of the game, however the Mules chipped away and the Tigers wound up leading by just two at halftime, 29-27.
A big burst by the Mules out of the second media break of the second half turned out to be the key stretch of the game. The teams were tied at the second media break again, just like the first half, but the Mules went on a 14-0 run out of the break to get away from the Tigers. The FHSU offense went into a dry spell for about a five-minute stretch before a Dan Mukuna bucket stopped the big run by the Mules. However, the damage was too much as FHSU scored just seven points inside the final 10 minutes of the game.
Mukuna led the Tigers with 20 points and nine rebounds. Jahvari Martino was the only other Tiger in double figures scoring with 10 points.
Jevon Hill led UCM with 16 points, while Kyran Tilley added 13. Tilley was a big factor in the 14-point run by UCM with seven points in that stretch. Carter Kaifes hit two 3-point field goals in that stretch and finished with 11 points.
After shooting just 33.3 percent from the field in the first half, UCM warmed to 51.9 percent in the second half. The Mules hit 10 3-point field goals and 10 free throws, compared to just three 3-pointers and five free throws made by the Tigers, which pretty much provided the difference in the game as UCM finished with 22 field goals and FHSU finished with 21.
Fort Hays State has another strong challenge ahead when it faces No. 2 nationally ranked Washburn on Saturday in Topeka. The Ichabods are off to a 9-0 start to the year and 1-0 start in MIAA play with a win over Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night. Washburn was a national semifinalist last year.