BY DYLAN SWIHART
PHOTOS BY ETHAN BOOE
No.4 Tigers avenge last week’s loss against RiverHawks
The Fort Hays State Tigers matched up against the Northeastern State RiverHawks at home on Saturday. The fourth-ranked Tigers shot over 50 percent from the floor and over 50 percent from behind the three-point line and forced 20 turnovers on their way to a 78-59 victory.
FHSU (21-3, 15-3 MIAA) had a well-rounded offensive game, with eight different players scoring more than five points and three players being in double digits. The Tigers also got a big contribution off the bench from freshman Emma Ruddle, who scored 11 points in as many minutes played.
Northeastern State (5-19, 3-15 MIAA) started the game keeping pace with Fort Hays State only being down 25-18 after the first quarter. Jaden Hobbs started the game off hot going 3-4 from behind the three-point line and finishing the first half leading all scorers with 11 points.
At the break, the Tigers were up 43-35 with their largest lead being 13 points. They forced 10 steals with nine fast-break points while the RiverHawks only had two steals but did not score a single fast-break point. However, Fort Hays State was outrebounded by Northeastern State 15-9, but the Tigers kept the RiverHawks in check.
The third quarter was when the Tigers started to take off with the game, outscoring the RiverHawks 19-13. Cydney Bergmann and Sydney Golladay with big contributions, Bergman scored five points and Golladay scored six points. FHSU continued their dominance into the fourth quarter stretching their lead to 21 points.
Fort Hays State closed out the game 78-59. For Fort Hays State, Bergmann led all scorers with 15 points, shooting perfect from the floor (6-6) and perfect from the free-throw line (3-3). Bergmann also contributed with 5 steals. Jaden Hobbs followed with 14 points, shooting 71 percent (5-7) from the field and 80 percent (4-5) from behind the three-point line.
For Northeastern State Zaria Collins led the team with 14 points shooting 50 percent from the floor (5-10) while being perfect from the free-throw line (4-4). Maleeah Langstaff followed with 13 points shooting 45.5 percent (5-11) from the field and 66 percent (2-3) from behind the three-point line.
Overall, Fort Hays State shot 54.5 percent (30-55) from the field and 57.1 percent (8-14) from behind the arc, while holding Northeastern State to just 39.2 percent (20-51) from the field and 32.8 percent (7-22) from behind the arc.
The Fort Hays State Tigers will be on the road in Jefferson City, MO on Thursday and will face the Lincoln Blue Tigers starting at 5:30 p.m.
Tiger men hold of NSU
Fort Hays State hosted the Northeastern State RiverHawks on Saturday. The Tigers improved to 18-4 overall and 13-4 in the MIAA while fighting through a defensive-minded game. The Tigers won 66-57 to take both games in the regular-season series with the RiverHawks. Northeastern State moved 12-12 overall and 7-11 in the MIAA.
The Tigers started the game electric with a 12-2 run, but the RiverHawks fought back to end the first half only down 30-23. Northeastern State’s Christian Cook led all scorers at the break with 10 points, and Fort Hays State’s Kaleb Hammeke led the Tigers with 8 points.
The RiverHawks come out of the break scoring the first two baskets of the second half, looking to get some momentum. However, the Tigers and RedHawks kept trading baskets and neither team allowed any sort of run to come together.
Hammeke left the game with an apparent injury with 13 minutes left. Hammeke was able to return but was held to very few minutes. Nyjee Wright picked it up when Hammeke left the game. While shooting numbers between each team were comparable, Northeastern State just could not overcome the 12-2 run the Tigers had in the first half.
The Tigers held the RiverHawks leading scorer, Emeka Obukwelu, to only three points. Obukwelu fouled out with three minutes left in the game. The Tigers’ largest lead was 15 points and the RiverHawks did start to make a comeback but it proved to be too late.
Northeastern State’s Rashad Perkins scored 17 points which led all scorers, shooting 44 percent (4-9) from the floor, 60 percent (3-5) from behind the arc, and 75 percent (6-8) from the line. Christian Cook followed with 16 points, shooting 45.5 percent (5-11) from the floor and a perfect 4-for-4 from the line.
The Tigers had four players in double digits, led by Nyjee Wright with 14 points, shooting 50 percent (3-6) from the floor and perfect from the line. Jared Vitztum was right behind with 12 points, shooting 33 percent (3-9) from the floor and 83 percent (5-6) from the line.
The Fort Hays State Tigers will host the Lincoln Blue Tigers on Monday starting at 5 p.m.