FHSU Athletics
Northwest Missouri State (4-12, 2-5 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (11-4, 4-2 MIAA)
Saturday, January 18 • 4 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Game Sponsor: Nex-Tech
National Anthem: Fort Hays Singers
Promotions: FHSU Cheer Camp at both halftimes
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Fort Hays State Men's Basketball wraps up a three-game homestand on Saturday when it plays host to Northwest Missouri State. Tipoff for the second meeting between the teams this season is set for 4 p.m. The Tigers enter at 11-4 overall, 4-2 in the MIAA, while the Bearcats are 4-12 overall and 2-5 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State won the first meeting of the season with Northwest Missouri State by a score of 58-39 in Maryville. It was the first win for FHSU in Maryville since the 2012-13 season, snapping an eight-game win string by the Bearcats on their home floor against the Tigers. The Tigers have a chance for their first regular season sweep of the Bearcats in conference play since the 2012-13 season. FHSU has won two of the last three meetings overall with NWMSU and won 57-49 last year in Hays.
The Tigers are coming off a 61-50 win over Missouri Western in Hays on Thursday night. The Tigers have held the opposition to 50 points or less in five of their last six games, going back to December 20. In the process the Tigers took over the national lead in scoring defense following their 69-44 win over Emporia State on January 9. They continue to lead that category, now at 58.0 points allowed per game this season.
The Bearcats are coming off a 74-69 loss at Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night. The Bearcats have lost five of their last six games, with the lone win a one-point decision over Central Missouri in Warrensburg on January 9. Northwest Missouri State is 3-3 so far this year in true road games, but are just 1-9 in home and neutral games combined this year.
Kaleb Hammeke reached another major milestone on Thursday night in the win over Missouri Western. He is now the only player in program history to have the combination of 500 assists and 500 rebounds in a career. Hammeke is the only active NCAA Division II player to have 1,500 points, 500 assists, and 500 rebounds in a career. He is one of only five active players at all NCAA levels to accomplish the feat in the three categories. The other four are NCAA Division I players, which includes Mark Sears of Alabama, RJ Davis of North Carolina, Caleb Love of Arizona, and Dayvion McKnight of Xavier. Hammeke and Davis are the only two of the group who have done it at one school.
Hammeke continues to lead the team at 15.1 points per game and 4.7 assists per game. Kyle Grill ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.0 points per game. Shaun Riley is the top rebounder at 6.6 per game and adds 10.2 points per game. Hammeke has scored in double figures in all 15 games so far this season and 102 times overall in his career. He is on the verge of recording three or more assists in a game 100 times in his career, currently with 99 occurrences.
Emorie Knox leads the Bearcats in scoring at 13.2 points per game, while Spencer Schomers adds 10.1 per game but has not played in the last eight games due to an injury. Knox had 10 points in the first meeting with FHSU this season.