MANHATTAN, Kan. - It doesn't count in the record books but it's a game Fort Hays State fans won't soon forget. Playing without their two veteran coaches and several injured players, the Tigers upset Kansas State 81-68 Tuesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.
Jared Vitztum scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Tigers to their first win over the Wildcats since 1938.
Caleb Hammeke added 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Tigers, who played the game as an exhibition and without coach Mark Johnson, who tested positive for COVID-19, and associate head coach Jeremy Brown, who is in quarantine as a close contact.
Behind second-year assistant Todd Johnston, Fort Hays State never trailed and led by 21, 71-50, after Hemmeke hit a 3-pointer with 7:07 to play.
"I'm just excited for the guys," Johnston said after the game. "I'm happy for them. We are 0-3, but we are talented. We are young and inexperienced. Some of the experienced guys from last year are in a completely different role this year. We just haven't figured out how to win a game (in regular season). I'm extremely excited for them. I hope this carries over and helps us win games in the future. I think for confidence and mentally for these guys, to see that, and pull it off is huge."
The game came on the 83rd anniversary of the first-ever meeting between the Tigers and Wildcats. Fort Hays State won that 1936 game 47-25 and the Tigers won again in 1938. The next three regular-season games were won by Kansas State in 1946, 1947 and 2009.
The Tigers never trailed in the game. An 8-0 run in the first half pushed the lead to eight and they led by six at halftime.
Fort Hays’ lead went from seven to 13 points in the second half until a 9-0 run at the midpoint made it 68-49 with 9:03 to go.
Mike McGuirl led Kansas State (1-4) with 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including four 3-pointers, but his teammates went 0-15 behind the arc. The Wildcats were also outrebounded 34-26 and outscored in the paint 36-30.