By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
EDMOND, Okla. – Fort Hays State saw a five-game win streak snapped on Saturday (Feb. 5) in a 75-68 loss to No. 16/16 ranked Central Oklahoma. The Tigers clawed their way back into the game late in the first half and briefly enjoyed a couple of leads in the second half, however the Bronchos found a way down the stretch to hit big shots when they needed them and remained unbeaten on their home floor this season.
The Bronchos came out of the gate firing on all cylinders and built a 16-point lead, 30-14, about 12 minutes into the game. However, the Tigers battled back and cut the lead all the way down to three just before halftime. The Bronchos took a four-point lead of 42-38 into the locker room.
FHSU scored the first five points of the second half to briefly take a 43-42 lead and the second half was a back-and-forth battle the rest of the way. UCO went on a 6-0 run to take the lead back by five, but then FHSU battled back once again and took a 54-53 lead on a Traejon Davis 3-point field goal with 13:30 to play. UCO once again moved in front, but the Tigers took a two-point lead of 61-59 on a fast break layup by Kaleb Hammeke with 7:46 to play. The Tigers would lead by two points one more time before UCO went in front for good with 4:49 to play on an Isaiah Wade jumper. The Tigers cut the lead back to one, but UCO hit shots when they needed them down the stretch, while a couple of key chances for the Tigers fell off the mark.
Jared Vitztum led the Tigers with 20 points and seven rebounds. He was 8-of-14 from the field with three 3-point field goals. Hammeke and Davis each chipped in 11 points for the Tigers and Hammeke had a team-best eight assists.
Callen Haydon led the Bronchos with 19 points and five assists and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free-throw line. Wade finished with 17 points and a team-best eight rebounds. Cam Givens added 13 points for UCO.
The Bronchos shot 50.9 percent from the field for the game, while the Tigers finished at 45.5 percent. FHSU used 12 3-point field goals to stay in the game, shooting 48 percent beyond the 3-point line.
Both teams remained in their same positions in the MIAA standings with the result. UCO is still second, now 19-3 overall and 14-2 in the MIAA. FHSU remains third, now 16-4 overall and 11-4 in the MIAA.