By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Craig Nicholson fought off early foul trouble to score a game-high 23 points and lead the Fort Hays State Tigers to a 90-78 win over Missouri Western Saturday afternoon at Gross Coliseum. Nicholson picked up two fouls in the first five minutes and only played 31 minutes but hit 8-of-9 from the field, was 2-for-2 from beyond the arc and hit all five of his free throw attempts.
Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

 

The Tigers trailed by five in the first half but an 8-0 run gave them the lead for good. A Nicholson 3-pointer near the end of the first half put FHSU up 42-32 at the half. They would score the first four points of the second half to go up 14, but Western cut that lead to seven before a 6-0 Tiger run put the game away.

Game Highlights

Jake Stoppel recorded his second double-double of the season, scoring 18 and grabbing 11 rebounds. Dom Samac scored 13, Achoki Moikobu 12 and James Fleming 11.

The Tigers shoot 53-percent from the floor including 7-of-19 from 3-point range. They go 23-of-26 from the free throw line and out-rebound the Griffons by eight.

FHSU is now 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA. They host Northwestern Oklahoma State Monday at 7pm.