BY TRISTAN SASSE
On Saturday, December 16, the Fort Hays State University men’s basketball team put on a dominant display at home against the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes. In a game the Tigers never trailed, FHSU went on to win 83-49. With the victory, Fort Hays improved to 8-3 on the season.
Game Recap
In the early going, FHSU took an 8-2 advantage. Kyler Kinnamon gave the Tigers an eight-point lead with 13:53 left in the first half. Kinnamon made three shots from long range in the first six minutes of the game. Midway through the first half, Fort Hays held a 20-13 lead.
A three-pointer by Marcus Cooper extended the lead to 10 shortly after. With 6:22 left in the half, the Tigers led 28-15. In the closing minutes of the half, FHSU pulled ahead by as many as 17. Fort Hays went into the locker room leading 36-21.
The Tigers shot 44.8% in the opening half while holding Kansas Wesleyan to 36%. The Coyotes out-rebounded FHSU 18-16 in the first half, but the Tigers made five three-pointers, had 11 assists, and only one turnover.
In the first half, Kinnamon led all players with nine points, three rebounds, and three assists. Cooper added eight points, three rebounds, and two assists. Trey O’Neil contributed with six points, while Hadley Gillum added five points.
For the Coyotes, Jordan McNelly had eight points, while three players contributed with three points each. Ithello Cross led all players with eight first-half rebounds.
FHSU took a 41-23 lead early in the second half. Throughout the second half, the Tigers maintained a sizable advantage. With just over 14 minutes remaining, Fort Hays increased their lead to 23. At the midpoint of the second half, FHSU was ahead 62-37.
The Tigers grew their lead to 28 with 7:48 remaining. In the closing minutes, FHSU would go on to lead by as many as 36 points before coming away with an 83-49 victory.
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By the Numbers
On the afternoon, Fort Hays shot 53.1% from the field, while holding the Coyotes to 41.3%. The Tigers also out-rebounded KWU 33-28. Additionally, FHSU had 22 assists and only four turnovers. The Tigers also forced 16 turnovers.
For FHSU, Kinnamon finished with a game-high 18 points, while adding four rebounds and three assists. Payton Stephens contributed with 14 points and five rebounds off the bench. Gillum and Cooper added 11 points each, while Brady Werth finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
For KWU, McNelly finished with 14 points and three rebounds. Cross led all players with 11 rebounds.
Looking Ahead
On Monday, December 18, the Tigers (8-3) will host Newman University (5-5) at 7 PM. Additionally, Kansas Wesleyan (7-6) will have an extended break before hosting Doane University (6-7) on Friday, December 29, in the Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Classic.