EMPORIA – The Fort Hays State Tiger men’s basketball team is used to battling tough with Sioux Falls in the MIAA/NCIS Challenge and Saturday was no different with the Tigers falling in overtime 96-92 at White Auditorium in Emporia.

The Tigers opened the game on 11-4 run and built their largest lead at 34-18 with 6:19 to play in the first half but Sioux Falls answered with a 20-6 run the end the first half and cut the Tigers lead to 42-38 at halftime.

Sioux Falls took a 53-52 lead with 16:10 to play in the second half and lead by as many as eight at 62-54 with just under 14 minutes left in the second half.

The two teams traded baskets for much of the rest of the game with neither team lead by more than six.

The Cougars took a two point lead with just eight second left but Kyle Kimmamon made a pair of free throws to tie the game at 87 and force overtime.

The Tigers took their only lead of the overtime at 92-91 on an Aaron Nickolson three-point but the Cougars scored the final five points of the game on their way to the 96-92 win.

Mark Johnson postgame

Highlights

Brady Werth lead the Tigers with a new career-high 30 points and Hadley Gillum added 15.

Drew Guebert led all scorers with 32 for Sioux Falls and Trevon Evans added 31.

The Tigers fall to 1-1 on the season and will host Central Christian College Nov. 15.