By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State improved to 2-2 overall on the season with a 67-51 win at home on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 18) against UC-Colorado Springs. The Tigers built a nine-point lead by halftime and did not receive any resistance from the Mountain Lions in the second half.
The teams played to a 13-13 tie early with the lead changing seven times, but a Freddy Bitondo tip in bucket at the 12:11 mark of the first half started the point where the Tigers would keep the lead for good. FHSU worked its way to an 11-point lead twice in the latter part of the opening half before leading 35-26 at the break.
Marcus Cooper started the scoring for FHSU in the second half with a layup 20 seconds in, pushing the lead to double figures once more. The Tigers held their double-digit lead the rest of the night, seeing it grow to 24 points by the 2:53 mark on a layup by Kyler Kinnamon. The Mountain Lions scored the final seven points of the game to make the final margin 16 points.
The Tigers held the Mountain Lion offense in check all evening, holding them to just 24.1 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent beyond the 3-point line. UCCS missed 12 free throws in the game, but still made 20 for a 62.5 percent mark at the line.
Fort Hays State hovered around the 40 percent shooting mark throughout the game, finishing at 41.5 percent. FHSU hit only two 3-point field goals, but made 21 free throws. The Tigers outscored the Mountain Lions by one at the line and made nine more field goals overall. Both teams were sloppy with ball control, FHSU with 22 turnovers and UCCS with 18. The Tigers dominated the glass, outrebounding the Mountain Lions 49-35.
Cooper finished with a team-high 17 points for the Tigers, while Brady Werth and Devin Davis added 10 each. Jared Vitztum had a team-best 11 rebounds, while Kinnamon dished out a team-high four assists.
Blend Avdili led UCCS in scoring with 16 points, while Elijah Ross and Dalton Walker each chipped in 10.
Fort Hays State returns to the floor Tuesday night in Wichita when they face Newman University at 7:30 pm inside Fugate Gymnasium.