FHSU Sports Information Department
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State led comfotably for a good portion of the second half, but had to hold off Central Oklahoma late to win 67-61 in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday night (Mar. 4). The Tigers moved to 20-9 overall, capturing head coach Mark Johnson’s ninth 20-win season at the helm. As the tournament’s No. 4 seed, the Tigers advance to play No. 1 seed Northwest Missouri State on Saturday (Mar. 5) at 8:15 pm.
Central Oklahoma opened the game on a 7-0 run, but the Tigers shook the rust off and started hitting shots about four minutes into the game. A 16-2 run found the Tigers leading by seven with 12:09 to play in the first half. The lead eventually reached eight, but UCO made a late first-half push and FHSU led by just one at halftime, 36-35.
After UCO hit the first shot of the second half to take a 1-point lead, FHSU an 11-0 run to push its lead to double figures for the first time in the game at the 14:12 mark. The Tigers enjoyed a 13-point lead at the 6:37 mark, but the Bronchos found a late run that made the last two minutes of the game uncomfortable for the Tigers. UCO slashed the lead down to just two with 1:06 to play, but Craig Nicholson found Rob Davis at the top of the key with 46 seconds remaining as Davis buried his fourth 3-point field goal of the game to push the margin back to five. UCO tried to respond with a 3-pointer, but it was off the mark.
Solid free-throw shooting from Nicholson and Hadley Gillum on Fort Hays State’s next two possessions pushed the margin out to seven twice, then eight with another free-throw from Gillum with 11 seconds remaining. It was too much for UCO to overcome in the short window of time left.
The Tigers struggled shooting the ball at just 37.5 percent for the game, but they hit eight 3-point field goals and went 17-of-22 at the free-throw line. UCO shot 45.8 percent from the field, but just 27.3 percent beyond the 3-point line. UCO went 11-of-14 at the line. Turnovers were a big key as FHSU forced 17 and committed just 10. FHSU outscored UCO 16-7 in points off turnovers.
Davis led FHSU with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, including a 4-of-8 effort beyond the 3-point line. Jake Stoppel and Craig Nicholson each chipped in 11 points. Davis led the team in assists with four, while Dom Samac pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds.
Jarred Bairstow led UCO with 17 points, followed by Cornell Neal with 11. Trai Jordan collected a team-high nine rebounds for the Bronchos.
The Tigers face Northwest Missouri State for the second time this season on Saturday. FHSU and NWMSU met only once in the regular season, that meeting going to the Bearcats in Maryville.