Tigers Overcome First Half Struggles to Defeat Sterling College 86-70

FHSU Sports Information Department

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State overcame first-half struggles in the first half to pick up an 86-70 win over Sterling College on Saturday evening (Nov. 28). Down by three at halftime, FHSU outscored Sterling by 19 in the second half to move to 5-0 overall on the season.

Sterling held leads of eight points three times in the first half before the Tigers scored the final four points before the break. Sterling led 42-39 at halftime, led by hot 3-point shooting from Brandon Givens who had five in the first half for 15 points. Sterling also outrebounded the Tigers by four in the first half.

Building on the momentum at the end of the first half, FHSU opened the second half on a 6-0 run to take a 45-42 lead. It was the first lead for FHSU after the 6:36 mark of the first half. Sterling took one more lead at 48-47 with 16:06 to go before the Tigers went on a 10-1 run to take an eight-point lead. An 8-0 burst between the 8:56 and 7:07 marks pushed the lead to 14 and the Warriors never cut the lead inside double figures the rest of the way.

Dom Samac led the Tigers with 20 points while Rob Davis added 19 with five 3-point field goals. Jake Stoppel had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Craig Nicholson led the Tigers in assists with eight. FHSU finished at 46.9 percent from the field, but 52.4 percent beyond the 3-point line (11-of-21).

After shooting 45.5 percent in the first half, Sterling was held to 32 percent shooting from the field in the second half and 39.7 percent for the game. Givens finished with a team-high 19 points while Terrence Boyd added 16 and Maurice Williams had 10.

The Tigers open up MIAA play on Wednesday night (Dec. 2) against Washburn. Game time is set for 7:30 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.

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