By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State moved to 17-4 overall and 12-4 in the MIAA by winning a physical battle with Rogers State on Thursday evening (Feb. 10) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers won by a score of 62-47 to split the regular season series with the Hillcats. Rogers State moved to 14-9 overall and 8-9 in the MIAA.
Rogers State held an early five-point lead at 11-6, but the Tigers clawed their way in front for good when Nyjee Wright hit a 3-point field goal at the 6:27 mark of the first half to take a 16-13 lead. The Tigers ended the half on a 15-6 run to get their lead to 10 at 31-21.
The Tigers scored the opening bucket of the second half to push their lead to 12, but the Hillcats went on an 11-2 run to get the lead down to just three with 14:34 to go. The Tigers responded with a 12-0 run to push the lead to 15, their largest of the game with 9:52 to play. The Hillcats never got closer than seven points the rest of the way and the Tigers stretched their lead to 15 twice more.
Jared Vitztum led the Tigers with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds. Kaleb Hammeke added 13 points and Traejon Davis came off the bench to chip in 11. FHSU went on to finish 43.9 percent from the field overall and 81.8 percent (18-of-22) at the free-throw line.
The Tigers were able to limit the Hillcats to a season-low 31.8 percent from the field overall. The Hillcats shot the same exact percentage in both halves, 7-of-22 from the field to finish at 14-of-44 overall. FHSU also held RSU to just 7.1 percent beyond the 3-point line (1-of-14). The only bright spot for the Hillcats shooting the ball was the free-throw line, where they hit 90 percent of their attempts (18-of-20).
The Tigers will face Northeastern State on Saturday (Feb. 12), looking for a sweep in the regular season series. FHSU defeated NSU 59-53 earlier this season in Tahlequah. Game time is set for 4 pm, which follows the women’s contest at 2 pm.