BY FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Washburn (8-7, 3-3 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (7-8, 1-6 MIAA)
Saturday, January 18, 2020 – 4 pm
Hays, Kan. – Gross Memorial Coliseum
Game Sponsor: Heartland Building Center
Promotions:
Hays Med Surgery Robot Demonstration
Education Appreciation- All faculty and staff at USD 489 and TMP will receive (1) free GA ticket
Big Brothers Big Sisters Duck Toss- purchase ducks from BBBS and throw them at halftime of the men’s game for a chance to win a prize
Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball looks to build on its first MIAA win of the season when it hosts Washburn on Saturday (Jan. 18) at 4 pm. The Tigers are looking to end a four-game losing streak to the Ichabods, which dates back to the 2017-18 season. FHSU enters at 7-8 overall, 1-6 in the MIAA, while WU is 8-7 overall, 3-3 in the MIAA.
The Tigers snapped a four-game losing string on Wednesday night with a 56-46 win over Emporia State. The 46 points by Emporia State was the lowest by a Tiger opponent in an MIAA contest since allowing 42 to Missouri Western in 2017-18. The win also snapped an 0-6 start to conference play this season for the Tigers.
Washburn was an NCAA Tournament participant each of the last two years, but has seen a sluggish start this year at 8-7 overall. The Ichabods are coming off a 79-51 loss at Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night. Washburn’s conference wins so far this year have been over Pittsburg State, Emporia State, and Missouri Western.
Fort Hays State’s last win over Washburn occurred on February 4 of the 2016-17 season in Topeka. FHSU claimed the earlier meeting in Hays that season as well. FHSU and Washburn are meeting just one time in the regular season for a second-straight year. Washburn won the only meeting last year, 80-73, in Topeka.
Jared Vitztum continues to lead the Tigers in scoring and rebounding, producing 12.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He led the Tigers in scoring in four of the last five games. Nyjee Wright continues to lead the Tigers in assists, producing 2.4 per game. The starting five of Vitztum, Wright, Devin Davis, Jake Hutchings, and Aaron Nicholson accounts for 73 percent of the FHSU scoring effort this season.