By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Fort Hays State claimed its final regular season road contest by a score of 51-47 at Central Missouri on Saturday (Feb. 17). Up 31-29 at the half, FHSU fought through a very physical second half and sealed the close contest with a late free throw. The No. 18 ranked Tigers improved to 20-5 overall and 15-4 in the MIAA with the win. Central Missouri moved to 11-13 overall and 6-12 in the MIAA.
The Tigers looked to be pulling away from the Mules when a 7-0 run took their lead from two to nine points (18-9) at the midway point of the opening half. However, the Mules countered with a 10-0 run to take a 19-18 lead about four minutes later as the Tigers went through a cold offensive spell for about five minutes. A jumper by Shaun Riley snapped the UCM run at about the 5-minute mark and the lead toggled back-and-forth a few times before a Riley dunk in the final minute created a 31-29 lead for FHSU at the half.
The second half was an all-out defensive grinder as neither team shot better than 35 percent from the field. UCM opened the half on a 9-2 run to take a five-point lead, but FHSU eventually countered with an 8-0 run to get the lead back by three at 43-40 with 9:50 to play. Elijah Nnanabu triggered the run with a jumper and Shaun Riley followed with a dunk on a broken play. Conner Landell put the Tigers in front with a layup off a nice pass from Bjarni Jonsson inside and Jaheim Holden capped the run with a layup. FHSU held UCM scoreless for 6:46 during the 8-0 run, but UCM eventually got the game tied again with six minutes to play.
Neither team could find points from the 6-minute to 2-minute marks until Nnanabu snapped the game’s scoreless drought with a gritty bucket just inside two minutes to play. The Tigers continued to deny the Mules points and then Kaleb Hammeke hit a pair of free throws with about 30 seconds to play extending the lead to four. The Tigers got another stop and Jonsson hit one of two free throws to make the lead five. But UCM hit a tough corner 3-point shot to stay alive. Hammeke hit just one of two free throws, leaving the door open for UCM, but the Mules missed a potential tying 3-point attempt. Nnanabu sealed the game on a free throw with one second remaining.
Nnanabu led the Tigers with 14 points, followed by Riley with 12. Riley had 10 of his 12 in the first half, while Nnanabu split his halves evenly with seven in each. Nnanabu also lead the Tigers in rebounds (9) and assists (3).
Keith Kiner III led UCM with 15 points, followed by Tim Jordan Jr. with 14. The Mules were held to their season low in points and it was the 11th time this season FHSU held an opponent under 50, winning all 11 of those occurrences.
Fort Hays State now prepares to play its final three games of the regular season at home. The Tigers host Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern next week.