By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Hadley Gillum and Brady Werth both had double-doubles and Kyler Kinnamon added 13 points with five assists and no turnovers as Fort Hays State starts MIAA play 2-0 with a 77-74 win over Pittsburg State at Gross Coliseum.

Gillum scored 29 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Werth overcame first half foul trouble to score 14 points along with 11 boards.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Brady Werth Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Tigers (6-2, 2-0 MIAA) used an 18-4 first half run to overcome an early 12-point deficit. Down eight early in the second half, Gillum and Werth combined to score 12 points in a 14-2 run that put FHSU up 52-50 with 12:44 to play.

Pitt State (5-4, 2-0 MIAA) closed the gap to 69-67 with 2:26 to play but Trey O’Neil hit a corner 3-pointer, his only points of the night, to push the lead to five. Brady Werth scored on a layup on the next possession to give the Tigers their biggest lead of the night at 74-67.

FHSU, who shot 76-percent from the free throw line, hit only three of their six attempts in the final 35 seconds giving the Gorillas a chance but Jaxon Holden’s 3-pointer missed at the horn.

Xavier Adams led the Gorillas with 22 points. Grant Lozoya added 20 and Demetrius Levarity scored 19 along with 13 rebounds.