HAYS, Kan. – Brady Werth scored 23 points and hit four 3-pointers all in the closing seconds of regulation and in overtime to lead Fort Hays State to a 101-96 double-overtime victory over Bethel College Monday at Gross Coliseum.
Werth’s fourth three of the game came with 3:13 to play in the second overtime and tied the game 91-91. Kyler Kinnamon then drove in for a layup following a Freddy Bitondo blocked shot to give the Tigers) the lead for good at 93-91. Kinnamon then hit four free throws in the final 50 seconds to seal the win.
Mark Johnson Postgame Interview
Aaron Nicholson Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
The Tigers (7-3) trailed by four with 22 seconds to play in regulation but Werth hit a three with 16 seconds left closed the gap to one. After the Threshers hit one of two free throws, Marcus Cooper scored on a layup to tie the game 70-70 with six seconds left.
Bethel’s Danen Kistner missed a three at the horn to send the game to overtime.
The Threshers (7-6) led by five on three different occasions in the first overtime but threes from Werth and Trey O’Neil pulled the Tigers within two. Werth’s second three of the extra period with 40 seconds left gave FHSU an 86-84 lead.
Jaylon Scott, who scored 28 points and pulled down 15 rebounds for Bethel, hit a jumper with 16 seconds left. Kyler Kinnamon missed a contested layup then Scott missed a mid-court shot to send the game to a second overtime.
The Tigers struggled from the free throw line, missing their first eight and 11 of their first 13 attempts midway through the second half. They hit 17 of their next 21 including 11-of-14 in the overtime periods.
Werth also had a team best 7 rebounds before fouling out in the second overtime. Aaron Nicholson also hit four 3-pointers and added 19 points despite going 1-for-8 from the free throw line.
Kyler Kinnamon scored 16 and dished out nine assists with only one turnover. Marcus Cooper added 14 points and Trey O’Neil 13.
The Tigers are off until December 30th when they host McPherson College in their final non-conference game.
— Edited to correct final score