FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State ran its win streak to four games and moved to 15-8 overall, 9-6 in the MIAA, with a 72-62 win over Central Oklahoma on Saturday (Feb. 11). Central Oklahoma dropped to 14-9 overall and also 9-6 in the conference, allowing FHSU to move into a fourth-place tie in the MIAA.
The Tigers led from start to finish, although the Bronchos made a late push to make the Tigers earn the victory. FHSU started the game on a 7-0 run and the lead reached double figures at the 9:58 mark of the first half. The lead grew as large as 20 but settled at 18 by halftime.
Central Oklahoma used an 8-0 run to start the second half, getting the lead down to 10, then had a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 10 again at the 13:44 mark, not allowing the Tigers to run away with the game. UCO kept chipping away and the lead dwindled to four at the 4:03 and 2:29 marks. But a JaQuan Smith layup and then a pair of free-throws by Rob Davis kept the Bronchos from threatening late.
Davis finished with a team-high 25 points, going 7-of-13 from the field, including a 4-of-9 effort beyond the 3-point line, and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. Kyler Kinnamon also reached double figures with 13 points, going 3-of-6 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free-throw line. Trey O’Neil pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
FHSU shot 48.9 percent from the field while holding the Bronchos to just 33.8 percent shooting from the field. UCO struggled to just 16.7 percent in the first half. Marquis Johnson led the Bronchos in scoring with 16 points, followed by a double-double effort of 15 points and 14 rebounds from Jake Hammond.
The Tigers head on the road next week to play the same opponents they played this week. They are at Northeastern State on Thursday night (Feb. 16) before traveling to Central Oklahoma on Saturday (Feb. 18).