Fort Hays State men’s basketball looks to put a rough opening weekend in the past when it hosts Central Christian College (Kan.) on Wednesday evening (Nov. 19) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. The Tigers enter their home opener 0-2 overall after dropping contests to Upper Iowa and Minnesota State-Moorhead last weekend in Maryville, Mo.
Defensively, the Tigers had a rough start to the season as they allowed over 80 points in both of their losses last week. The Tigers gave up 20 three-point field goals between Upper Iowa and MSU-Moorhead as the opposition shot 44.4 percent beyond the 3-point line. The opponents also shot a total of 67 free-throws over the two games as the Tigers committed a total of 51 fouls, averaging 25.5 per game. Although the Tigers hit more total field goals, the difference in three-point field goals and free-throws made was too much to overcome in both losses. Ball security was great as the Tigers committed only 8.0 turnovers per game and the Tigers outrebounded their opponents in both contests, but it was not enough to overcome Upper Iowa and MSU-Moorhead combining to shoot 51 percent from the field over the two games.
The Tigers look to put the first 0-2 start under Mark Johnson behind them quickly this week as it hosts a pair of in-state NAIA schools at home, starting with Central Christian on Wednesday, then Bethel on Saturday. Central Christian enters its contest with FHSU at 4-1 overall.
Craig Nicholson picked up where he left off in his All-American sophomore campaign of 2013-14. Nicholson averaged 19.0 points and 6.5 assists per game this past weekend, scoring 24 points against Upper Iowa and 14 against MSU-Moorhead, leading the team in both games. Weber State transfer Royce Williams provided 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in his first two games in a Tiger uniform. Jake Stoppel and Tomislav Gabric also averaged 10.0 points per game over the two contests. Garden City (Kan.) Community College transfer Jeremy Wilson led the Tigers in rebounding for the first week, averaging 7.0 per contest.
The Tigers are off to a good start at the free-throw line at 78.3 percent through the first two games. The Tigers set a new school record in free-throw percentage last year as a team at 78.9 percent. Three-point shooting could use an upturn as the Tigers shot just 33.3 percent beyond the arc in the first two games.