FHSU Sports Information Department
BOLIVAR, Mo. – Fort Hays State ran its win streak to four games as it picked up its second road win in three days, defeating Southwest Baptist 83-66 on Saturday (Dec. 19). The Tigers shot a red-hot 60.4 percent from the field, led by a season-high 29 points from Rob Davis. FHSU moved to 9-2 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA with the win. SBU dropped to 6-4 overall and 2-3 in the MIAA.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle until Fort Hays State used a 12-2 burst in the final 2:22 to take a 40-31 lead into halftime. SBU pulled within seven with the first basket of the second half, but that was as close as it would get. FHSU pushed its lead to 11 with a pair of free throws and a jumper from Jake Stoppel. Moments later, a Rob Davis 3-point field goal would push the lead into double figures for good at the 16:53 mark. The lead eventually grew to 22 with 2:18 remaining in the game before settling on the 17-point margin.
Davis was too much for the Bearcats to handle off the dribble as he finished 10-of-15 from the field. He was a perfect 8-of-8 from the field inside the 3-point line and he also went 7-of-9 at the free-throw line for his season-high 29 points. Dom Samac added 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field. Both players canned two 3-point field goals. Samac scored at least 20 points for the fifth time this year while Davis reached the mark for the third time. Stoppel also reached double figures in scoring with 14. Davis added a team-high five assists.
Cartier Dean and Logan Hovey led the Bearcats with 16 points each. Brian Patterson added 11. FHSU held SBU to 40.7 percent shooting overall, including a 23.5 percent effort beyond the 3-point line.
After winning at No. 15 ranked Central Missouri on Thursday and Saturday’s win over SBU, the Tigers have vaulted up to fifth place in the MIAA standings at 3-2. They are just one game back in the loss column of the conference lead. FHSU has the best overall record of any MIAA team at 9-2 heading into the holiday break.