The Fort Hays State Tiger nearly overcome their worst shooting game of the season but miss some key free throws down the stretch and fall to Central Missouri 93-85 in overtime in the conference opener for both Thursday night at the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg. The loss drops the Tigers to 7-1 while the Mules improve to 7-1.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

The Tigers trailed by 13 in the first half after a 15-0 Mules run, but they would answer by scoring the next nine and trailed by three at the half. Central pushed the lead to seven in the second half before an 11-3 FHSU run put then up one. A Carson Konrade three-pointer gave the Tigers a 70-67 lead with 1:23 to play, but Craig Nicholson, who hit his first nine free throw attempts, missed three of four down the stretch. He did hit one with less than four seconds to play to force the OT.

Game Highlights

Carson Konrade hist six three’s and led the Tigers with a career-high 30 points. Dwayne Brunson added 17 points and 10 boards and Nicholson chipped in with 16 points and 11 boards.

The Tigers shoot a season-low 39-percent and were outrebounded by 24. The Mules hit 52-percent from the floor and were 12-of-14 from the foul line in the overtime period.