{"id":83593,"date":"2024-11-20T09:33:34","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T15:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=83593"},"modified":"2024-11-20T09:33:36","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T15:33:36","slug":"mens-basketball-wins-home-opener-behind-career-nights-from-riley-and-grill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=83593","title":{"rendered":"Men&#8217;s basketball wins home opener behind career nights from Riley and Grill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Story by RAEGAN NEUFELD Photos by SIDNEY GILKISON<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After making their first five shots of the game, Fort Hays State men\u2019s basketball continued to easily find the bottom of the net on Tuesday, shooting 58% from the field to get their first win of the season against South Dakota Mines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tigers (1-2) started the game on an 8-0 run, seven of which were scored by senior RJ Crawford, and held the lead for the entire 40 minutes. While the Hardrockers (0-5) got within three points during the first half, FHSU went to the locker room up 10. Their lead grew more comfortable throughout the second half, ending in a final score of 76-52.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"468\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83601\" data-id=\"83601\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-002.jpg?resize=790%2C468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-002.jpg?w=916 916w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-002.jpg?resize=370%2C219 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-002.jpg?resize=150%2C89 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-002.jpg?resize=768%2C455 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"521\" height=\"787\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83599\" data-id=\"83599\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-004.jpg?resize=521%2C787\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-004.jpg?w=521 521w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-004.jpg?resize=172%2C260 172w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-004.jpg?resize=99%2C150 99w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 521px) 100vw, 521px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"492\" height=\"685\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83600\" data-id=\"83600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-003.jpg?resize=492%2C685\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-003.jpg?w=492 492w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-003.jpg?resize=187%2C260 187w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-003.jpg?resize=108%2C150 108w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 492px) 100vw, 492px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"522\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83598\" data-id=\"83598\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-001.jpg?resize=790%2C522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-001.jpg?resize=1024%2C677 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-001.jpg?resize=370%2C245 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-001.jpg?resize=150%2C99 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-001.jpg?resize=768%2C508 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-001.jpg?w=1186 1186w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The win came after two road losses to Southwest Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBoth those teams are still undefeated and they\u2019re two of the better teams we\u2019ll play all year, so it was great experience,\u201d Head Coach Mark Johnson said of playing SMSU and CSP. \u201cI think just getting home helped, and then the second half we started to guard better, we got a lot of stops and that led to easy baskets for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to making nearly 60% of their shots, FHSU held South Dakota Mines to just 37.8% from the field. The Tigers also recorded 18 assists compared to the Hardrockers\u2019 eight, gave up seven fewer turnovers and stole the ball nine times, leading to 23 of their points coming from turnovers. FHSU scored 38 points in the paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe had a lot of good open shots,\u201d said sophomore guard Kyle Gril. \u201cWe were making good plays for everybody, finding the open people and not shooting any bad shots or forcing anything. If you move the ball, drive hard and kick it out to open shooters, it\u2019s easy to shoot really well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the few statistical categories South Dakota Mines bested the Tigers in was rebounds. The Hardrockers pulled down 29, including eight offensive, while FHSU grabbed 26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have to be a better rebounding team,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cDefensively, I\u2019d still like to see some improvement, but I think the number one thing we need to get better at is finding a way to rebound the basketball better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior Shaun Riley finished the game with a career-high 24 points to lead the Tigers and all scorers, going 10-12 from the field and 4-8 from the free throw line. He also recorded four rebounds and five assists. Riley scored his previous career high of 18 points just 11 days ago against Concordia-St. Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been being more aggressive whenever I get the ball,\u201d he said. \u201cNot looking to pass or to find someone else, more so just getting aggressive to find my shot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grill also had a career-high against the Hardrockers, scoring 21 points. He shot 7-12 overall, including 2-6 from three-point range and 5-7 from the free throw line. He also grabbed seven rebounds. Graduate student Kaleb Hammeke followed with 10 points and seven assists, and senior Traejon Davis finished with nine points and six rebounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guillem Garcia led South Dakota Mines with 13 points off of the bench. As a team, the Hardrockers scored 25 bench points compared to FHSU\u2019s five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Johnson, the two games next week will be exactly what his team needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis team needs more games,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have a lot of new guys playing. Our bench needs to get better, but right now our bench is all the new guys, so I think the week of practice and more game time will really help our team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tigers will be at home for both games. They take on Central Christian at 12 p.m. on November 26 and Manhattan Christian at 2 p.m. on November 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is a big win under our belt going into next Tuesday,\u201d Riley said. \u201cNow we have a win, and we just have to go back to practice, fix some things and get ready for the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Story by RAEGAN NEUFELD Photos by SIDNEY GILKISON Tiger Media Network After making their first five shots of the game, Fort Hays State men\u2019s basketball&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":83598,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3394,7349],"tags":[11633,3466,664,14226,16008],"class_list":["post-83593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mens-basketball-sports","category-sports","tag-fhsu-mbb","tag-fhsu-mens-basketball","tag-mens-basketball","tag-raegan-neufeld","tag-sidney-gilkison"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MBB-vs-Mines-001.jpg?fit=1186%2C784","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=83593"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83604,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83593\/revisions\/83604"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/83598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=83593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=83593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=83593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}