By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State improved to 13-4 overall and 8-3 in the MIAA with a 57-49 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday (Jan. 20). The Tigers never trailed in the game, hitting the first bucket and never let the Lopers pull even. UNK fell to 5-11 overall and 2-9 in MIAA play. FHSU has now won six straight meetings with UNK.
Fort Hays State looked as though it was going to run away with the game early, opening on a 10-0 run before a Nebraska-Kearney timeout. However, the Tigers went quiet on the offensive end moments later and saw the Lopers finally start hitting shots after going scoreless for the first 5:19. UNK got within two of the Tigers at 12-10 before the Tigers created a bit of separation once more with a 7-0 run to get the lead to nine. Late in the first half, Bjarni Jonsson and Kaleb Hammeke hit back-to-back 3-point field goals to give the Tigers a 12-point lead, but the Lopers hit a 3-point field goal just before the first half buzzer. FHSU led 29-20 at the break.
UNK took advantage of having the ball first in the second half and hit a 3-point field goal to get the Tiger lead down to six right out of the break. With the Tigers still struggling to pull away, the Lopers outscored the Tigers 18-11 over the first eight minutes of the second half and once again whittled the Tiger lead back down to two at 40-38, but a Jaheim Holden 3-point field goal and Hammeke 2-pointer gave the Tigers a seven-point cushion as the 10-minute mark drew near.
The lead teetered between seven and five for a little while before the Tigers found some tenacity to create an 8-0 burst to get the lead to 13 and ultimately snap the hopes of a Loper comeback. After an Elijah Nnanabu basket started the run, Hammeke created a steal and raced to the other end for a dunk. Jonsson followed that with a steal and got the ball ahead to Shaun Riley for another fast-break dunk. Riley then capped the run with an offensive rebound stick back with 4:40 to play. The Tigers coasted to victory from that point.
FHSU struggled to just 36.1 percent shooting from the field overall and just 22.7 percent beyond the 3-point line, but managed to hold UNK to 35.1 percent overall. The Tigers held a 9-point advantage in points off turnovers and a 6-point advantage at the free-throw line. Despite their struggles, the Tigers did a good job taking care of the ball with just six turnovers to UNK’s 10.
Hammeke led the Tigers with 15 points, hitting six field goals and a pair of free throws. Nnanabu also reached double figures with 11 points. Traejon Davis tied for the team lead in rebounds with Riley, each with eight. Hammeke dished out a team-best four assists and Jonsson had a team-best four steals.
D’Aundre Samuels led UNK with 14 points, followed by Damiri Lindo with 11.
The Tigers held an opponent under 50 points for the seventh time this year and remain unbeaten when doing so. The last three times the Tigers have held an MIAA opponent under 50, the opposition has scored 49. The season-low by an MIAA team against the Tigers was 43 by Northeastern State in the conference opener. FHSU continues to lead NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing 58.2 points per game.
At the midway point of MIAA play, Northwest Missouri State (9-2) continues to hold its one-game lead on Fort Hays State, Missouri Western, and Washburn in the standings.
Fort Hays State is back at home next week to host Washburn (Thur. Jan. 25) and Emporia State (Sat. Jan. 27) in the only regular season meetings between the teams.