By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State remained close all game, but could never quite get over the hump in a 59-56 loss at Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday (Feb. 2). The Tigers’ losing string inside the Health and Sports Center reached six games with the result. FHSU is now 13-7 overall, 7-4 in the MIAA. UNK moved to 7-13 overall, 2-9 in the MIAA.
The Tigers led just three times in the game and never by more than two points. They led early in the first half twice by scores of 2-0 and 9-8, then just once in the second half by a score of 37-36 after a jumper from Brady Werth with 14:32 remaining.
After holding the 9-8 lead in the first half at the 13:03 mark, the Lopers regained the lead on an AJ Jackson old-fashioned three-point play. Fort Hays State pulled within two points of UNK four times in the first half, but never regained the lead before UNK went into halftime with a 33-27 lead.
The Tigers used a 10-3 run to open the second half to grab their final lead of the game on that Werth jumper at the 14:32 mark, but Jackson once again gave the lead back to the Lopers with a jumper 20 seconds later. FHSU pulled back within one, but UNK went on a 13-4 run over about a five and a half minute span to take a 10-point lead with 4:38 remaining. It was too much for the Tigers to overcome, though they had a couple of chances inside a minute to create a one-possession game. An open three-point look with 42 seconds left attempting to get within two was off the mark, and a three-point try to get within one with 10 seconds remaining was also off the mark.
Fort Hays State shot just 37.3 percent from the field, but held UNK to just 36.4 percent shooting. FHSU made two more field goals than UNK and both teams hit five 3-pointers, so a 14-7 margin for UNK at the free-throw line was the difference in the game.
Aaron Nicholson led the scoring effort for FHSU with 15 points. Werth and Devin Davis each had 11 points, while Kyler Kinnamon added 10. Jackson led the Lopers with 22 points, while Kanon Koster had 13 and Chase Winchester had 11.
The Tigers now prepare for a tough road trip in the coming week to Pittsburg State (Thursday) and Missouri Southern (Saturday). FHSU fell into fifth place in the MIAA standings due to the loss