FHSU Athletics
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Fort Hays State moved to 9-3 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA with a 57-46 win at Central Missouri on Saturday at the Multipurpose Building. The Tigers led by two at halftime and created space with a 10-0 run to open the second half before winning by 11.
Central Missouri held the early advantage, but never led by more than four prior to FHSU taking its first lead at 14-13 on a Bjarni Jonsson 3-point field goal from the left corner. FHSU also led by four at 19-15 before few more lead changes the remainder of the first half. A driving layup by Jaheim Holden gave the Tigers a two-point advantage, 27-25, at the break.
The Tigers opened up their advantage with staunch defense to open the second half, holding the Mules scoreless over the first 6:42 of action. Kaleb Hammeke and Elijah Nnanabu did all of the damage for FHSU in their 10-0 run to open the second frame, Hammeke with a pair of threes and Nnanabu with a pair of twos.
After FHSU was starting to cruise up 14 with 11:47 to play, the UCM offense came to life with an 8-0 run to get the lead back down to six with 10:16 to play. However, Nnanabu buried a 3-point field goal to snap the run and FHSU pushed its lead back to double figures with 7:38 to play on a Jonsson jumper. UCM brought the lead back inside 10 only one time at nine points with 3:47 to play before FHSU regained its double-figure lead to close out the contest.
Hammeke led the Tigers with 16 points with three of his four field goals in the game beyond the 3-point line. Holden finished with 12 points after leading the team with nine at the half. He hit two 3-point field goals and was 5-of-6 from the field, while dishing out a team-high four assists. Gabe Pieschl led the Tigers in rebounds with 12, helping the team win the battle on the glass by five. The Tigers surrendered just two second-chance points in the game.
FHSU was very efficient from the field in the second-half, going 11-of-18 (61.1 percent). FHSU shot 45.8 percent overall for the game. The Tigers held the Mules to just 34.6 percent from the field. The 46 points were the lowest allowed to an MIAA opponent so far this year by the Tigers.
Mikel Henderson led UCM, now 6-6 overall and 2-4 in the MIAA, with 18 points and four assists. Gaven Pinkley also reached double figures in scoring for the Mules with 11. Garrett Luinstra pulled down a team-best seven rebounds.
Fort Hays State will open the new year on Monday with a 3 p.m. tipoff at Lincoln University. The Blue Tigers will enter the game on a three-game win streak, now 7-2 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA after a win over Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.