By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball heads back on the road this week for a pair of games against in-state rivals, beginning with Emporia State on Wednesday night. The Tigers and Hornets meet for the second time this season after FHSU took the first meeting in Hays by eight points. FHSU enters at 11-4 overall, 5-1 in the MIAA, while ESU enters at 7-7 overall, 2-3 in the MIAA. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm following the women’s contest.
Fort Hays State enters Wednesday on a three-game win streak, which started back on January 5 with a road win at Southwest Baptist. FHSU defeated Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma at home last week and has moved into a tie for second in the MIAA standings with Pittsburg State. The only unbeaten team remaining is Northwest Missouri State, currently ranked No. 2 in the nation.
The Tigers have won the last four meetings with the Hornets. In the win over ESU in Hays earlier this year, Marcus Cooper led the way for FHSU with 23 points, followed by Aaron Nicholson and Kyler Kinnamon each with 14. Devin Davis also reached double figures, chipping in 13.
Brady Werth continues to lead FHSU in scoring for the season at 15.1 points per game. He reached double figures in scoring in each of the last six games. Marcus Cooper has scored in double figures the last seven games, averaging 17.4 points per game in that stretch. Jared Vitztum has averaged 7.6 rebounds over the last seven games and is coming off his first career double-double back on Saturday when he scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, both career highs