After surviving in the late minutes of Wednesday’s contest against Central Christian, the Fort Hays State men’s basketball team sets its sights west as they travel to Colorado for a Friday night tilt against 9th-ranked Colorado School of Mines. The Tigers head into the game at 2-1 after a 64-57 win over Central Christian. The Orediggers hold a 2-0 record in the early season.
FHSU was able to get past their cold shooting night against Central Christian to get their second win of the season. Although the Tigers only shot 29.6% from the field, Fort Hays State was able to secure the close win in the closing minutes. For the Tigers, their rebounding, on both sides of the ball, has given them the advantage over opponents. FHSU is out-rebounding opponents 115-98 through the first three games of the season.
Brady Werth leads the Tigers in scoring as he averages a team-high 20 points per game. Marcus Cooper (12.7) and Hadley Gillum (10.3) also top the scoring charge for FHSU as they both average double-digits. The trio also holds the team advantage in the rebounding department with Werth collecting 5.7 per game and Cooper and Gillum bringing down 6.0 per game each.
Colorado Mines, ranked No. 9 in NCAA Division II, starts the season at 2-0 after collecting two victories at Regis University last weekend. The Orediggers earned an 82-78 win over Lubbock Christian, followed by a double-digit victory over St. Mary’s, 67-53. Four Orediggers average double-digit scoring through the two wins, led by Luke Schroepfer netting 15.5 a game. Ben Sonnefeld, Duke Douglas and Ben Clare all account for 11.5 per contest. Rebounding has been an early-season struggle for Colorado Mines as its opponents have the advantage at 65-54 over the Orediggers.
Colorado Mines defeated Fort Hays State on a buzzer beater last year in Hays, 70-67, breaking a tie when a desperation 3-point attempt banked in as time expired. In last year’s meeting, Colorado Mines held the No. 21 ranking nationally. FHSU has a huge advantage in the all-time series, though, at 35-6.
The contest in Golden is set for a 7 p.m. MST/ 8 p.m. CST tip off from Lockridge Arena on the Colorado Mines campus.