By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball is back at home on Thursday night (Jan. 24) to take on Missouri Western in MIAA action. The Tigers are coming off a loss at Washburn last Saturday, but enter the game at 12-5 overall and 6-2 in the MIAA. The Griffons enter at 8-10 overall and 2-5 in the MIAA under first year head coach Sundance Wicks. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm, which follows the women’s contest that begins at 5:30 pm.
Promotions
Game Sponsor: High Plains Farm Credit
Promotion: Big Brothers Big Sisters Duck Toss – Purchase ducks to throw at men’s halftime for a chance to win a TV
National Anthem: Stockton High School
Student Section Theme: Movie Characters
Fort Hays State had a four-game win streak snapped at the hands of Washburn back on Saturday, falling 80-73. Washburn went on a 20-6 run to end the game, pushing the Tigers down to a tie for third place in the MIAA standings with Pittsburg State. Northwest Missouri State remains unbeaten in MIAA play, while Washburn has just one loss in the conference. Following Thursday’s contest with Missouri Western, the Tigers will host Northwest Missouri, the nation’s No. 2 ranked team, on Saturday in Hays. The Bearcats are still undefeated overall at 17-0 going into their contest at Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday.
The Tigers and Griffons met just once in the regular season last year and do the same again this year. The teams meet in Hays for a second-straight year. Last year, FHSU claimed a 61-42 win over MWSU. It marked the lowest amount of points the Tigers held an opponent to last year. Fort Hays State has won the last two meetings with Missouri Western.
Brady Werth and Marcus Cooper both reached the 20-point mark in the contest at Washburn last weekend, Werth with 20 and Cooper with 21. That helped up their team-leading scoring averages, Werth now at 15.6 points per game and Cooper at 14.8 per game. Aaron Nicholson averages 10.5 points per game and scored a career-high 24 points in a win last week at Emporia State. He also had a career-high seven 3-point field goals made in that game.