By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State was held to two points over the final seven and-a-half minutes of the first half and trailed by 13 at halftime to No. 2 Northwest Missouri State and lost 72-67 to defending national champs in front of 3,515 at Gross Coliseum.

The Tigers, who suffered their first home loss of the season, turned the ball over five time and missed their final four shots in the key 13-2 run by the Bearcats (16-2, 8-2 MIAA) who played without reigning National Player of the Year Marcus Pitts.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

FHSU (12-6, 5-4 MIAA) trailed by as many as 14 on three different occasions in the second half before going on a 12-3 run to pull within five with 6:38 to play. They closed the gap to four twice, the latest with 2:38 left.

Northwest, who went 19-of-33 from the free throw line, made ten of their final 14 attempts over the final two and-a-half minutes to hold off the Tigers. The Bearcats shot 66-percent from the floor including 7-of-13 from beyond the arc.

The Tigers, who shot 49-percent from the floor but only 28-percent from beyond the arc (5-18), were led by Marcus Cooper’s career-high 24 points. Hadley Gillum added 18 and Aaron Nicholson 10.

All five of Bearcats starters scored in double-figures led by Chris-Ebou Ndow’s 20 points and 14 rebounds.