BY TRISTAN SASSE
PHOTO COURTESY OF FHSU ATHLETICS
After defeating the Missouri Southern Lions to open up conference play in late November, the Fort Hays State University men’s basketball team was looking for a season sweep on the Lions in the Quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament. In a close contest throughout, the Tigers escaped the Quarterfinals with an 86-85 overtime victory. The game featured 28 lead changes and 21 ties. Additionally, the win by the Tigers snapped Missouri Southern’s 8-game win streak.
Game Recap
The first five minutes featured many lead changes, as Missouri Southern took a 12-10 lead. Hadley Gillum paced FHSU with eight of the Tigers’ first 10 points. Near the midway point of the opening half, the Lions still maintained a slight margin, at 19-18.
After strong shooting from the field to start the afternoon, both teams cooled down and were knotted up at 23 with under seven minutes left in the half. Soon after, Fort Hays took a 28-25 edge with just over three minutes before halftime. Missouri Southern ended the half on a 9-2 run and went into the locker room with a 34-30 advantage.
FHSU shot 40% in the first half while holding the Lions to 35.7%. Meanwhile, Missouri Southern dominated the rebounding battle, 26-13. Additionally, the first half had nine lead changes and eight ties, and neither team led by more than four points. The Tigers forced eight turnovers, while only committing three.
Gillum led the Tigers in the first half with 13 points and four rebounds. Jared Vitztum added five points, while Brady Werth had four points and three rebounds. Gillum and Werth were the only starters to score in the opening half.
On the other side, CJ Carr guided the Lions with 10 points and three rebounds, followed by Elyjah Clark with eight points. Enis Memic added six points and six rebounds off the bench.
Early in the second half, Missouri Southern extended its lead to eight points. With 15 minutes remaining in the game, the Lions held a 45-39 lead. FHSU answered with a 7-0 run to regain the lead moments later. In the following minutes, baskets were continually traded, and the Tigers were ahead 55-54 with under 10 minutes left.
In the following minutes, a flurry of three-pointers by each team helped Missouri Southern take a 64-61 advantage. With under four minutes to play, Fort Hays still trailed by one, at 69-68. Seconds later, teams continued to trade the lead and the Lions held a 75-74 margin with under a minute to play. Each team had chances to take control at the free throw line in the closing seconds, but after regulation, the game was tied at 76.
In overtime, FHSU took an early 80-78 lead. Once again, the lead continued to shift sides, and the Tigers held an 84-83 advantage with just under a minute to play. After a pair of free throws by the Lions, Fort Hays trailed by one, 85-84, with 47 seconds left.
Neither team was able to score on the following possessions, but Gillum was fouled and went to the free throw line with one second remaining. Gillum knocked down both free throws and the Tigers held on for an 86-85 overtime victory.
Gillum was able to rise to the occasion and force another game, as he is the lone senior on the roster.
“This is the first time I’ve been put in this position (game-winning opportunity) so it was new for me,” said Gillum. “Playing my last few games, it gives you more energy.”
As the Tigers pulled off the upset, FHSU Head Basketball Coach Mark Johnson wasn’t surprised with the outcome.
“I think we’re playing as well as anybody right now, so why not us?” said Johnson.
By the Numbers
Overall, FHSU shot 45.1%, while Missouri Southern finished at 40%. The Tigers were outrebounded 52-32 on the afternoon and gave up 26 second-chance points. In the meantime, FHSU forced 16 turnovers while only committing six of their own. Fort Hays also made seven three-pointers and 15-of-17 attempts from the free throw line.
Gillum led the Tigers with 26 points and nine rebounds. Marcus Cooper added 23 points, with all of them coming after halftime. Also, Werth finished with 16 points and four rebounds before fouling out.
For the Lions, Carr finished with a game-high 28 points and eight rebounds. Kinzer Lambert added 17 points and six rebounds, while Clark had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Additionally, Memic finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.
Looking Ahead
Up next, No. 7 FHSU (19-11) will face the No. 3 seeded Washburn Ichabods (21-8) in the Semifinal Round of the MIAA Tournament on Saturday, March 3 at 6 PM in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. Meanwhile, Missouri Southern finishes its season at 20-9.