The Fort Hays State University men’s basketball team (21-4, 12-4 Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association) started their three-game home stretch on Saturday against Nebraska-Kearney.
The Lopers (12-12, 8-9 MIAA) ended the Tigers’ 10-game win streak on Feb. 5 in Kearney, Neb. The streak extended through the month of Jan. and included two overtime wins. The Lopers’ win in the first matchup was part of a six-game win streak that included all of the Kansas schools in the MIAA.
The Tigers, coming off a 79-70 loss at Washburn on Wednesday, avoided back-to-back losses with a 78-72 victory over the Lopers. The Tigers have not lost two straight since the first week of Dec.
Sophomore Jake Stoppel, Wilson, led the Tigers with 18 points and eight rebounds. He shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the field in the first half, scoring 11 of the Tigers’ 41 first half points.
Sophomore Craig Nicholson, Wichita was second on the team with 17 points. He also added a game-high seven assists. He shot 9-of-10 from the free-throw line after shooting 80 percent or less from the charity stripe in the last six games.
Junior James Fleming, Hanover Park, Ill., came up big for the Tigers again scoring 13 points. Fleming was 3-of-8 from the field, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arch; however, he shot 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.
The Tigers shot 92 percent from the free-throw line as a team. The Tigers have struggled from the line as of late, failing to shoot above 80 percent in their last eight games.
The Tigers started the game with a 15-8 run and led by as much as 12 in the first half before a 16-6 Loper run cut the lead to two with a minute left in the first half. The Tigers were able to stretch the lead to five by intermission, leading 41-36.
A 12-6 Loper run in the first five minutes of the second half gave them their first lead since the opening minutes of the game. The Tigers followed with a 13-2 run of their own and owned a 10-point lead with nine minutes left in the game.
Over the next seven minutes the Lopers capped a 18-10 run and cut the Tiger lead to two points, the Tigers led 70-68 with two minutes left.
It was the prolific play of the Tigers’ backcourt that would seal the victory for the Tigers. Nicholson and Fleming scored all eight of the Tigers’ final points, scoring five and three, respectively.
The Tigers finish out their season with Central Oklahoma on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Northeastern State on Friday with an 8 p.m. tipoff.
The Tigers look to keep their No. 4 spot in the MIAA this week and earn the first round bye in the MIAA tournament.
With the first round of the NCAA Central Region Rankings released last Wednesday the Tigers currently sit a No. 6 and have to stay in the top eight to receive a bid to the NCAA tournament.