FHSU Athletics
Missouri Southern (8-4, 4-2 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (10-3, 5-2 MIAA)
Thursday, January 5, 2023 - 7:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. - Gross Memorial Coliseum
Game Sponsor: Domino's Pizza
National Anthem: Stockton High School
Halftime: Simon and Lyric Arestov's Rolla Bolla - an amazing display of acrobatics, balance, and athleticism - Instagram Page
Radio: KJLS (103.3)
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Fort Hays State Men's Basketball takes on Missouri Southern in MIAA action on Thursday night (Jan. 5) at 7:30 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. The Tigers enter at 10-3 overall, 5-2 in the MIAA, while the Lions are 8-4 overall, 4-2 in the MIAA. FHSU enters the game on a three-game win streak, while MSSU is riding a four-game win streak.
Fort Hays State has won its last three meetings with Missouri Southern. The Tigers won both meetings last year, an 89-71 victory in Hays during the regular season and a 71-55 win in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals in Kansas City. The Tigers won the only 2020-21 meeting between the teams, a 102-94 overtime result in Joplin. The last win for Missouri Southern occurred in 2019-20 in Hays by a score of 85-67 when MSSU held a No. 18 ranking in NCAA Division II. FHSU leads the all-time series with Missouri Southern 36-22 and holds a 14-10 advantage in MIAA regular season meetings between the teams.
The Tigers moved back to second in NCAA Division II for scoring defense, allowing just 56.7 points per game. Only Indiana (Pa.), the nation's top ranked team, has a better average at 56.5 allowed per game. The Tigers own the eighth-best field goal percentage defense in Division II, allowing opponents just a .380 field goal percentage for the season.
Fort Hays State started its three-game win streak with a win over Newman in Hays back on December 18, then returned from the holiday break with a pair of road wins at Central Missouri (Dec. 31) and Lincoln (Jan. 2). Missouri Southern started its current four-game win streak with an upset win on the road at top-10 ranked Central Oklahoma. The Lions followed with wins over Newman, Central Missouri, and Pittsburg State.
Kaleb Hammeke leads the Tigers in scoring at 17.5 points per game, which ranks fourth in the MIAA. He is third in the conference in assists at 4.0 per game and second in minutes played, averaging 36.2 per contest. Hammeke has averaged 22.7 points per game in three career contests against Missouri Southern. Elijah Nnanabu ranks second on the team in scoring at 8.7 points per game, while Bjarni Jonsson is third at 8.4 per game seeing his average elevate after scoring in double figures five of the last seven games. Gabe Pieschl leads the Tigers in rebounding at 6.4 per game.
Avery Taggart and Winston Dessesow lead Missouri Southern in scoring, each at 11.8 points per game. Vinson Sigmon Jr. is close behind at 11.4 per game. This game will feature brothers facing each other as Jaheim Holden's brother Isaiah plays for Missouri Southern.