FHSU Sports Information Department
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Fort Hays State had its final tune-up before regular season play as it took on the University of Kansas in exhibition play Tuesday night (Nov. 10). Kansas pulled away late in the first half and cruised to a 95-59 win over FHSU.
Kansas opened the game on a 10-0 run before Craig Nicholson provided the first basket for FHSU with a three-pointer at 16:23. The Tigers slashed into the Jayhawk lead by going on a 9-0 run to make it 16-14 in favor of Kansas at the 12:45 mark. That was as close as FHSU would get in the first half as Kansas steadily built a lead of 16 by halftime, 45-29.
Craig Nicholson led the Tigers in scoring in the first half with seven points. Rob Davis and Dom Samac each had five before the break. FHSU was held to 31.3 percent shooting in the first half.
Kansas steadily pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Tigers by 20 after the half. KU eventually led by 39 before the final score settled on a 36-point margin.
Samac finished with a team-high 12 points for the Tigers. He was 4-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 at the charity stripe. Nicholson added nine. Kyler Kinnamon had a team-high three assists and Hadley Gillum pulled down a team-high six rebounds.
Perry Ellis led Kansas with 16 points while Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk hit five 3-point field goals for 15 points. Frank Mason had 14, and Wayne Selden, Jr. and Devonte’ Graham each had 11.
The Tigers open the regular season on Saturday (Nov. 14) against Southwest Minnesota State in Hays. Game time is set for 7 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum.