By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State picked up its first MIAA victory of the season by outlasting Emporia State 56-46 on Wednesday night (Jan. 15) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers snapped a four-game losing skid, moving to 7-8 overall and 1-6 in the MIAA, while the Hornets dropped to 9-6 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA.
Both teams struggled shooting the ball throughout the evening. FHSU finished at 33.9 percent overall, while ESU was a bit worse at 32.7 percent. Even with the rough shooting effort, the Tigers did well taking care of the ball with just five turnovers compared to 14 by the Hornets. The teams played to a 22-22 tie in the first half before FHSU prevailed 34-24 in the second half.
Fort Hays State put together a 10-0 run over the first 4:12 of the second half, but Emporia State cut the lead back to three with a 7-0 run to follow. It capped a larger 15-0 run by the Tigers going back to the end of the first half. Calvin Harrington snapped the ESU run with a 3-point field goal, then Jared Vitztum made bucket in the lane, Perry Carroll put in two free throws, and Nyjee Wright buried a 3-pointer to complete another 10-0 Tiger run. That pushed the Tiger lead to 13 with 9:13 to play.
Wright buried another pair of key 3-point field goals to push a seven-point lead back out to 13 between the 5:00 and 3:40 marks. The Tigers coasted to the win from that point on, earning a split in the season series with the Hornets.
Vitztum led the Tigers with 17 points and eight rebounds, going 7-of-12 from the field with two 3-point field goals and a free throw. Wright finished with 11, all scored in the second half, while dishing out a team-high four assists.
Duncan Fort and Zac Owens tied with a team-high 10 points each for the Hornets. The Tigers held Emporia State’s top scorer on the season, Jumah’Ri Turner, to just five points.
The Tigers look to take their momentum forward into Saturday’s contest with Washburn in Hays. Tipoff is set for 4 pm following the women’s game at 2 pm.