By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball returns to the floor after a week off when it plays at Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday (Feb. 2). Tipoff is set for 4 pm in Kearney, which follows the women’s contest slated at 2 pm. The Tigers are coming off their first home loss of the season, now 13-6 overall, 7-3 in the MIAA, while the Lopers enter at 6-13 overall, 1-9 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State currently sits in a three-way tie for third in the MIAA standings with Lincoln and Washburn. Northwest Missouri State continues to lead the MIAA at 10-0 and Missouri Southern is second at 8-3.
Nebraska-Kearney was winless in MIAA play until at 59-53 win at Emporia State on January 20, but they dropped their last two conference games to Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western. The Lopers are in search of their first MIAA win at home this year. Fort Hays State has dropped the last five meetings in Kearney with UNK, the last win occurring back in the 2012-13 season. UNK has won six of the last 10 contests in the overall series, yet FHSU holds an 80-50 advantage in the all-time series.
The Tigers edged the Lopers earlier this season in Hays by a score of 76-73, back on December 4. It was the MIAA opener for both teams. Brady Werth led the Tigers with a season-high 27 points, while Devin Davis scored 13 and Aaron Nicholson had 12. Chase Winchester and Henry Penner led the Lopers each with 17 points, while Kanon Koster had a double-double of 11 points and 11 assists.