By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
JOPLIN, Mo. – Fort Hays State trailed by just six at halftime, but a 31-12 run by Missouri Southern to open the second half put a comeback out of reach. FHSU closed the final 3:05 of the game on an 11-0 run, bringing the final margin back to 12 in the end. The Lions improved to 19-5 overall, 10-4 in the MIAA with a 78-66 decision over the Tigers, now 14-8 overall and 8-5 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State had a tough afternoon shooting the ball, hitting at just a 35.3 percent rate for the game. The Tigers held brief one-point leads early in the first half before the Lions went on to lead for nearly 37 minutes of the game. A 10-9 lead was the last lead enjoyed by FHSU at the 12:13 mark of the first half.
Missouri Southern led 38-32 at the half and then pushed its lead to 25 over the first 10 minutes of the second half with the 31-12 run. The Lions were 12-of-19 from the field (63.2 percent) during that run with five three-pointers, while the Tigers were just 4-of-15 from the field in that span with just one three-point field goal.
Marcus Cooper led the Tigers with 13 points, while Brady Werth was the only other Tiger in double figures with 10. Devin Davis had a team-high seven rebounds, while adding nine points.
Elyjah Clark of Missouri Southern led all scorers with 22 points, while Cam Martin had 19 and Kinzer Lambert had 11. Martin and Lambert tied with a team-high nine rebounds each. Enis Memic also reached double figures in scoring with 10 points.
FHSU remained alone in fifth place in the MIAA, just a game back of fourth held by Lincoln University. The Tigers return to the floor on Thursday evening (Feb. 14) at home against Lindenwood University, then host Lincoln on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 16).