JOPLIN, Mo. – Fort Hays State put together a 12-2 run in the final six minutes to close an 11-point deficit to one but couldn’t overcome a season-high 23 turnovers and lost 84-81 to Missouri Southern Thursday at the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center.

Rob Davis and Trey O’Neil both missed contested 3-point attempts in the final 10 seconds as the Tigers (4-3-, 0-1 MIAA) drop the conference opener for the second straight year.

Mark Johnson Postgame

Game Highlights

FHSU led by six with just over five minutes to play in the first half, but the Lions (5-2, 1-0 MIAA) scored 11 straight to go up five and led by two at the half. MSSU hit 10 of their first 12 shots in the second half to build the lead to nine which they eventually extended to 11 with 6:08 before the Tigers put together a final push.

 

The Tigers shot 53-percent but their 23 turnovers turned into 29 Missouri Southern points and hit only 14 of their 22 free throw attempts.

Rob Davis scored a game-high 27, his fifth straight game of 20 or more points. Hadley Gillum added 14, all in the second half. Brady Werth scored a career-high nine points along with eight rebounds and blocked three shots. Payton Stephens had a career-high eight points along with seven rebounds.