By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State moved into a tie for second place in the MIAA standings with an 84-74 win over Missouri Western on Thursday evening (Jan. 24) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers moved to 13-5 overall, 7-2 in the MIAA with the win. The Griffons dropped to 8-11 overall, 2-6 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State looked as though it was going to run away with the game early. After Missouri Western scored the first five points of the game, the Tigers scored 19 straight points en route to a 26-2 run over nearly eight minutes of action. The run gave FHSU a 26-7 lead, but the Griffons did not go quietly. The Griffons outscored the Tigers 23-17 the remainder of the first half and the Tigers led by 13 at halftime, 43-30.
Fort Hays State kept its lead in double figures for nearly 10 minutes of the second half before Missouri Western cut it to nine with 10:06 to play. The lead went to double figures one more time at 11 points before the Griffons went on a quick 5-0 burst to get the lead down to six with 8:44 to play. Missouri Western kept chipping away and eventually trimmed the lead to four at the 3:16 mark and three at the 2:32 mark. However, a Kyler Kinnamon three-point field goal from the top of the key with 2:00 remaining was critical in holding off the late surge from Missouri Western.
The Griffons cut the lead to four one more time before FHSU ended the game on a 7-1 run. A Marcus Cooper layup on a set play drawn up out of a timeout started the run and pushed the lead back to six with 43 seconds remaining. The Griffons did not hit a field goal the rest of the way.
Brady Werth led the Tigers with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. He was a perfect 4-of-4 beyond the 3-point line and 3-of-3 at the free-throw line. Marcus Cooper added 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Aaron Nicholson added 13 points and Kinnamon chipped in 10.
Lavon Hightower had the hot hand for the Griffons, scoring 20 of his game-high 29 points after halftime. He was 9-of-14 from the field and hit 6-of-9 three-point field goal attempts. He added five points at the free-throw line. Tyrell Carroll scored eight of his 20 points for the Griffons at the free-throw line.
The Tigers will put their unbeaten home record on the line Saturday (Jan. 26) when they host undefeated and No. 2 ranked Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats are 18-0 overall and 8-0 in the MIAA. Tipoff is set for 4 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum