By Dustin Armbruster

Fort Hays complete the opening weekend of MIAA play in Pittsburg on Saturday looking to even their conference record following a three point loss to Missouri Southern on Thursday night.

Pittsburg State ran out of the gates, taking a 15-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game. Fort Hays found traction and tied the score at 17 following their own run of 13-2. The Tigers took the lead for the first time on a Trey O’Neil three pointer at 22-20, part of a 20-6 run that pushed the Fort Hays lead as high as 12. Pitt State got back within five before a pair of free throws right before half time put the Tigers up 42-35.

Highlights

Neither team found much in the first five minutes of the second half combining for four points, but Fort Hays was able to push their lead up to nine at 45-36. The Tigers pushed their lead up to twelve at 48-36. Pitt State answered with back to back three pointers to stay in contact. Fort Hays led rest of the way with the Gorillas getting within three one time at 60-57. The Tigers hit eight of their final eleven free throws in the final four minutes to win 72-67.

Coach Mark Johnson

The Tigers shoot 49% for the game and hit 7 of 11 three pointers. Fort Hays also made 19 of 26 free throws for 73%. Kyler Kinnamon led the way with 14 points. Rob Davis scored 13 and Brady Werth scored 10 for his first double figure game in a Tiger uniform. Fort Hays moves to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA, they return home on Wednesday to play Washburn. Pittsburg State has lost six in a row and is 1-8 overall, 0-2 in conference play.

By Dustin Armbruster

Fort Hays State finished their first MIAA road trip of the season in Pittsburg with the #4 Pittsburg State Gorillas on Saturday afternoon. #25 Fort Hays State was looking to win just their second ever road game against a nationally ranked opponent and looking to even their conference record after a loss at Missouri Southern on Thursday night.

Highlights

Fort Hays built a first quarter lead as high as six points at 17-11 before Pitt State went on a 20-2 run to end the first quarter and begin the second quarter. Pitt State pushed their lead as high as 12 at the end of the run. Fort Hays trailed by ten at half time and fourteen on two occasions in the third quarter. The Tigers then went on their best run of the game, outscoring the Gorillas 16-4 with the first shot of the fourth quarter at 52-40. Pitt State then scored the next nine points to regain control of the game and wins 70-56.

Coach Tony Hobson

Nikola Kacperska tied a career high with 19, including five three pointers. Emma Stroyan and Kacey Kennett each scored 10. Fort Hays shot just 28% in the game while Pittsburg State shot their season average 43%. Tigers has entered MIAA as the top field goal percentage team in the nation. The Tigers fall to 6-2 and 0-2 in the MIAA. They will return to action on Wednesday versus Washburn. Pittsburg State is 8-0, 2-0.

FHSU Sports Information
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Fort Hays State senior defensive end Sie Doe, Jr., has been named the D2CCA Super Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year for the 2016 season. In the process, Doe was named to the All-Super Region 3 First Team, while teammate Raheeme Dumas was named to the Second Team at cornerback. The teams are voted on by sports information directors from schools in Super Region 3.

On the heels of being named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, Doe has been tabbed the best among four conferences in one of the most competitive super regions in NCAA Division II. Conferences included in the super region are the MIAA, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), Great American Conference (GAC), and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).

Doe was hands down the most dominant defensive lineman in the Super Region in 2016, posting 15 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles in 11 games. The closest MIAA player in sack count to Doe in the regular season was eight behind with seven. The closest to Doe in the super region is Beau Bates of Minnesota-Duluth, the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, who is a linebacker with 13 on the season. Doe is also tied for the national lead in forced fumbles with five. Put all that together with 76 tackles (third-best on the team), an impressive number for a defensive lineman, Doe set himself apart as not only one of the most dominant defenders in the region, but also the nation. He currently ranks third nationally in total sacks. Doe is the first-ever Tiger football player to earn a super region player of the year honor.

Dumas has enjoyed a big senior year as well for the Tigers, recording six interceptions so far from his cornerback position. He also has seven pass break-ups, one forced fumble, and 32 total tackles. Dumas is just one interception shy of the FHSU single-season record and he has 11 in his career to tie for third-best in school history. Dumas was an All-MIAA First Team selection this season.

FHSU Sports Information
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State wrestling dropped its season-opening dual on Thursday (Dec. 1) by the score of 25-18 to Lindenwood.

Lindenwood’s Carlos Jacquez put the Lions up 3-0 right out of the gate in the 125 pound match with a 13-6 decision over Conrad Cole. In the ensuing 133-pound bout, Hunter Haralson extended the Lions lead to 8-0 with a technical fall, 16-0, in the second period over Josh Martinez.

At 141 pounds, Brandon Ball closed the lead to just two when he managed to pin Chase Kelley 3:52 into the match. Ball was in full control of the match leading 4-0 when he got Kelley on his back to earn the quick pin. With the victory, Ball improves to 12-2 on the season for the Tigers.

In the 149-pound bout, Fort Hays State’s Jacob Kay battled with Lindenwood’s Ronald Gentile. Gentile got the better of Kay and increased the Lions lead to 12-6 with an 18-6 major decision.

Greg Tooley cut the Lions lead to just one (12-11) in the 157 pound weight class with a 21-5 technical fall 5:47 into the match over Shea Spradley. Tooley started with a takedown but then surrendered a reversal immediately. Tooley then managed to get an escape but was taken down shortly afterwards, but then got a reversal of his own to take a 5-4 lead into the second period. After starting in the top position in the second, Tooley allowed a quick escape but then went to work. He proceeded to record a take down and then two, four-point near-falls to extend his lead to 15-5 in a hurry. In the third, Tooley one again recorded a takedown and finished with a four-point near-fall.

After the Tigers gave up a forfeit in the 165-pound bout they trailed 18-11 heading into the 174-pound bout between Micquile Robinson and Lindenwood’s Batchuluun Zulkhuu. Robinson struggled to get any momentum going as Zulkhuu was in control for the entire match and walked away with an 11-2 major decision.

With the Tigers trailing 22-11, David Hamil of Lindenwood defeated Rakim Dean 8-3 to clinch the win for the Lions.

At 197 pounds the Tigers sent the No. 4 wrestler in the nation, Jon Inman, to the mat to face off against the No. 8 wrestler from Lindenwood Dillon Archer. Archer got an early shot on Inman and had his leg elevated for a long time in the first period, but was unable to get him to the mat. Inman then took a turn at a shot of his own and succeeded. After an escape from Archer, Inman once again took him to the mat only to allow an escape before the period was up. In the second period Inman chose bottom and escaped immediately and turned in two more takedowns and a four point near-fall to blitz out to a 13-3. Toss in a stalling point and a riding time point in the third for Inman and he moved to 12-0 on the season with a 15-3 major decision.

Christian Lance took to the mat for the Tigers with something still to prove as he looked to remain unbeaten on the year at heavyweight. Standing in his way was Lindenwood’s Jacob Borgmeyer. It was a slow moving first period as the wrestlers looked to be feeling each other out with no points scored. In the second period Lance surrendered an escape to Borgmeyer and wound up trailing 1-0 heading to the final period. In the third Lance recorded an early escape of his own to even the score at 1-1. With neither wrestler recording a takedown in the final minute and a half, the two headed to a sudden death overtime period. With time running out in the one-minute period, Borgmeyer took a shot at Lance’s left leg that he was able to sprawl away from. Then with two seconds remaining in the period Lance was given a take down as he was able to gain position by twisting around Borgmeyer after the failed shot attempt to claim the 3-1 decision and move to 16-0 on the season.

Next up for the Tigers is the annual Bob Smith Open on Saturday (Dec. 3) that is hosted at Fort Hays State. The wrestling is set to begin at 9 am.

JOPLIN, Mo. – Fort Hays State put together a 12-2 run in the final six minutes to close an 11-point deficit to one but couldn’t overcome a season-high 23 turnovers and lost 84-81 to Missouri Southern Thursday at the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center.

Rob Davis and Trey O’Neil both missed contested 3-point attempts in the final 10 seconds as the Tigers (4-3-, 0-1 MIAA) drop the conference opener for the second straight year.

Mark Johnson Postgame

Game Highlights

FHSU led by six with just over five minutes to play in the first half, but the Lions (5-2, 1-0 MIAA) scored 11 straight to go up five and led by two at the half. MSSU hit 10 of their first 12 shots in the second half to build the lead to nine which they eventually extended to 11 with 6:08 before the Tigers put together a final push.

The Tigers shot 53-percent but their 23 turnovers turned into 29 Missouri Southern points and hit only 14 of their 22 free throw attempts.

Rob Davis scored a game-high 27, his fifth straight game of 20 or more points. Hadley Gillum added 14, all in the second half. Brady Werth scored a career-high nine points along with eight rebounds and blocked three shots. Payton Stephens had a career-high eight points along with seven rebounds.

JOPLIN, Mo. – Missouri Southern State shot a season-high 52-percent while holding Fort Hays State to a season-low 35-percent and beat the 25th-ranked Tigers 75-64 Thursday at the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center. The Lions (4-4, 10 MIAA) scored the games first six points and never trailed as they end a five-game losing streak to FHSU.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Tigers (6-1, 0-1 MIAA) trailed by 15 at the half and were down 21 after three quarters before putting together a 12-5 run to pull within 12 early in the fourth quarter. It would be the closest they would get until the final margin of 11 at the end of the game.

The Tigers finished 3-for-23 from 3-point range and were 15-of-25 from the free throw line.

Freshman Madison Mittie scored a team-high 14 points and was the only Tiger in double-figures.

Desirea Buerge scored 18, Pratt native Jenson Maydew added 16 and Deb Holcomb 13 to lead the MSSU.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Fort Hays State volleyball senior Crystal Whitten has been named to the AVCA All-Central Region team, announced Wednesday (Nov. 30) by the organization. Whitten is the first Tiger to earn All-Region honors since 2005 (Kelly Skidmore).

The outside hitter was one of seven MIAA student-athletes listed on the 14-player team. Nebraska-Kearney had three players honored, with Washburn earning two spots on the team and Central Oklahoma with one.

Whitten wrapped up an impressive career with 491 kills this season, leading the MIAA and ranking 22nd in the country with 4.13 kills per set. She also led the team with 395 digs and 25 service aces, leading the Tigers in all three categories for the second-straight season. Her 491 kills rank fifth in a single season during the rally scoring era at FHSU, while her 4.13 kills per frame is sixth-best in the program’s NCAA Division II history.

The Wichita, Kan. native matched her career-high with 23 kills against Central Oklahoma (Oct. 14), tying the school’s rally scoring era record with 76 attack attempts.

Whitten recorded 1,507 kills and 1,266 digs in her four-year collegiate career, split between Pittsburg State and FHSU. She nearly reached 1,000 kills in just two seasons as a Tiger, recording 911 kills over the last two seasons. She averaged 3.76 kills per set in 68 matches for FHSU, third-best in the program’s NCAA Division II history. She also ranks seventh in DII program history with 3.44 digs per set.

FHSU Athletics

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Sophomore defender Luis Torres has been named to the D2CCA All-America Team for the 2016 season. Torres earned an honorable mention selection as a back/defender.

Torres had a big year for the Tigers as he was one of the top scoring defenders in the MIAA. He finished with 14 points for the year with seven goals. He was the team leader in minutes played with 1,718 and helped the Tigers produce six shutouts for the season. He helped lead a defensive line that allowed a 0.97 goals against average. FHSU made its third-consecutive appearance in the national quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament and is now the three-time defending Central Region champion.

Torres adds this honor to All-MIAA First Team and D2CCA All-Central Region First Team honors for the year.

2016 D2CCA All-America Team

FHSU Sports Infromation

LILBURN, Georgia – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team is ranked 25th in the most recent WBCA NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, released Tuesday (Nov. 29). It is the first time the Tigers have been ranked in the Top 25 this season after spending all last season in the polls.

This is the fifth-straight season that the Tigers have been listed in the poll at some point during the season. FHSU holds a 47-17 record while ranked under head coach Tony Hobson, including a 6-10 mark against other ranked teams.

Two other MIAA schools are listed towards the top of the poll, with Emporia State ranked No. 1 and Pittsburg State listed fourth. The Tigers take on each of these schools in their next four games, facing off with the Gorillas on the road this Saturday (Dec. 3) before hosting the Lady Hornets a week later (Saturday, December 10).

Provided ESU makes it through its final weekend of non-conference action unscathed, the Lady Hornets will travel to Gross Memorial Coliseum as the top-ranked team in the nation for the second-straight year. Fort Hays State unseated its conference rival last year, defeating the top team in the country for the first time in program history before taking the top spot in the poll the following week.

The Tigers will play their first games as a ranked team on the road this week, traveling to Joplin, Mo. for the conference opener against Missouri Southern on Thursday (Dec. 1). First tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Below is the WBCA Division II Coaches’ Poll for November 29, 2016.

Others Receiving Votes: Saginaw Valley State (4-1) 47; Seattle Pacific (5-0) 46; Northern State (4-1) 42; UC-San Diego (4-2) 38; West Florida (5-0) 35; Wheeling Jesuit (5-1) 35; Johnson C Smith (5-1) 31; Missouri Western State (6-1) 22; Arkansas Tech (4-1) 15; Point Loma Nazarene (5-1) 14; Western Washington (5-1) 12; Anderson (SC) (4-1) 11; Ursuline (4-2) 11; Harding (4-1) 8; Lubbock Christian (4-3) 7; Simon Fraser (8-1) 3.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State’s Rob Davis has been named the MIAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Davis averaged 24.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game last week helping Fort Hays State to a pair of wins.

He had 24 points in a 73-65 win at Newman, hitting a key 3-point field goal to extend Fort Hays States lead to six points with 28 seconds remaining in the game. He shot 9-of-15 from the field and 3-of-5 beyond the 3-point line.

In a 92-63 win over Sterling College, he had 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including a 4-of-6 effort beyond the 3-point line.

For the week, he shot 65.4 percent from the field, 63.6 percent beyond the 3-point line, and 88.9 percent at the free-throw line. Davis extended his streak of scoring at least 20 points to five consecutive games and he is the second-leading scorer in the MIAA at 24.7 points per game.

The 5-11 senior guard is a native of Detroit, Mich. where he competed at Westside Christian Academy prior to playing at Pratt Community College.