FHSU Athletics

The No. 14 ranked Fort Hays State wrestling team heads east to Louisville, Ky. to take on No. 4 ranked Pitt-Johnstown in the first round of the National Duals on Friday (Jan. 4). The dual is set to begin at 8 a.m. CT (9 a.m. ET). Of the 16 teams participating, 11 are ranked in the latest D2WCA National Top 25 Poll and three other squads are receiving votes.

The top-5 teams in the nation will be present in Louisville; Nebraska-Kearney, St. Cloud State, Notre Dame College, Pitt-Johnstown and McKendree. No. 7 Wheeling Jesuit and No. 8 Lindenwood round out the top-10, while No. 13 Central Oklahoma, No. 18 Indianapolis and No. 21 Upper Iowa complete the ranked teams in the field. Gannon, Wisconsin-Parkside and West Liberty are receiving votes in the latest poll.

The Tigers enter the weekend with two ranked wrestlers on the squad. Junior Brandon Ball is No. 2 in the 141-pound weight class and sophomore Efe Osaghae sits at No. 4 in the 157-pound weight class. Ball carries an overall record of 9-0 with individual titles at the Bethany Swede Open and the Bob Smith Open. He sits at 1-0 in duals with a 6-0 decision over Central Oklahoma’s Nate Keim. Osaghae has put together a solid start to his season as well with a 12-2 overall record, including an individual title at the Swede Open. Osaghae has also captured runner-up finishes at the UNK Holiday Inn Open and the Bob Smith Open, while earning a 1-0 start to his dual season with a 5-4 decision over Dayton Garrett of UCO.

Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats enter the dual with five wrestlers ranked in the top-12 of their weight classes. No. 3 at 141 pounds, Joey Alessandro, will provide a must-see battle with Ball. Junior Chris Eddins is the top-ranked wrestler in the 149-pound weight class. Devin Austin enters as the No. 9 ranked wrestler at 165 pounds. At 174 pounds, Brock Biddle comes in as the No. 7 ranked wrestler, while Levi Niebauer (No. 6 at 197 pounds) rounds out the individuals who are ranked for Pitt-Johnstown.

FHSU Athletics

After playing at home for the entire month of December, the fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women’s basketball team will head out on the road for the first time in 39 days Thursday (Jan. 3) when the Tigers travel to Warrensburg, Mo. to take on No. 15 Central Missouri. First tip between the Tigers and Jennies is set for 5:30 p.m. from the UCM Multipurpose Building.

In just its second true road game this season, Fort Hays State will look for revenge against Central Missouri after the Jennies ended FHSU’s run in the regional semifinals last season, 66-59. The Jennies went on to win the national title, winning all five other postseason contests by 10 or more points.

The win gave UCM a 15-12 lead in the all-time series with Fort Hays State. The home team has dominated the series, with the Tigers winning just three of 11 games in Warrensburg (3-8) while winning eight of 10 in Hays (8-2). The Tigers are 10-10 against UCM under Hobson, including a 2-5 mark on the road. UCM has won two straight against FHSU, one shy of its longest winning streak in series history.

The Tigers rank first in Division II with just 9.8 turnovers per game while compiling a turnover margin of +11.7 so far this season, second-best in the country. they rank in the top 10 nationally in eight other categories, including assist/turnover ratio (1.55, second), blocked shots per game (5.5, eighth), fewest turnovers (108, third), free throw attempts (309, sixth), free throw makes (227, third), personal fouls per game (13.1, ninth), scoring margin (29.9, fourth) and win percentage (10 undefeated teams remaining).

A win Thursday would be Tony Hobson’s 217th career victory at Fort Hays State University, tying him with Helen Miles for the most coaching wins as a Tiger in program history.

Fort Hays State is 35-36 in games played in Missouri under Hobson. This is the first Thursday contest for the Tigers this season. Fort Hays State is 35-14 on Thursdays under Hobson.

Tatyana Legette is averaging a double-double in league play through two MIAA contests this season, putting up 19.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest against No. 24 Emporia State and Nebraska-Kearney last month. Kacey Kennett has scored in double figures all three times she has laced them up against Central Missouri, averaging 14.7 ppg against the Jennies. After scoring in double figures just once in her first 39 games as a Tiger, Whitney Randall has scored 10 or more points in four consecutive contests, tied for the longest stretch of double-digit performances for any Tiger this season (Kennett).

The defending National Champions returned three All-MIAA performers, including the league player of the year and a first team All-American in leading scorer Paige Redmond. The Jennies are in the middle of the pack in the MIAA in scoring average this season, totaling 73.4 points per contest, while ranking second-to-last with 66.5 points against each night. UCM drills 9.2 three-pointers per game, ranking second in the conference. The UCM offense is very reliant on the five starters, with all five averaging at least 8.5 points per contest and the bench chipping in just 10.1 points each night. Redmond ranks in the top five in the MIAA in both scoring (16.1 ppg) and assists (4.0 apg), while both Morgan Fleming (15.0 ppg) and Megan Skaggs (14.4 ppg) also sit in the top 10 in the league in scoring.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State heads out on the road for the first time since late November when it plays at Central Missouri on Thursday night (Jan. 3) in Warrensburg. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm, which follows the women’s contest at 5:30 pm. FHSU enters at 8-3 overall, 2-0 in the MIAA, while Central Missouri is 7-4 overall, 0-2 in the MIAA.

Fort Hays State is on a six-game win streak entering Thursday night’s contest. All six of those wins were inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. FHSU has not won away from home yet this season, going 0-2 in true road games and 0-1 in neutral site contests so far. Fort Hays State’s last win away from Hays was in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament in Kansas City last year, and the last true road win was at Northeastern State on February 8, 2018. FHSU is 0-4 in true road games since that win at NSU.

The teams make their only meeting of the season in Warrensburg for a second-straight year. UCM won last year’s game 81-66, putting the game away early with a 24-point halftime lead.

Central Missouri enters Thursday on a two-game win streak after non-conference wins over Mid-America Nazarene and Avila University to close out December. The Mules look for their first conference win after dropping road games at Southwest Baptist and Washburn in early December to open MIAA play. Central Missouri is 6-0 at home so far this year.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Dedric Lawson had 13 points and 15 rebounds, Kansas’ young backcourt made enough crucial plays when it mattered, and the fifth-ranked Jayhawks held off No. 23 Oklahoma 70-63 on Wednesday night.

Devon Dotson added 16 points and fellow freshman Quentin Grimes had 14 for the Jayhawks (12-1, 1-0 Big 12), who survived a nervy final minute to win their 28th consecutive conference opener.

The last time Kansas lost its initial Big 12 game was against Oklahoma on Jan. 8, 1991.

The Sooners (11-2, 0-1) nearly turned the trick again Wednesday night, rallying just about every time the Jayhawks went on a run. And when Charlie Moore missed two free throws in the final minute, Aaron Calixte’s off-balance runner got them within 67-63 with 31 seconds to go.

Dotson made the second of two foul shots at the other end for Kansas. Calixte and Kristian Doolittle then came up empty for Oklahoma before Dotson made two more free throws to seal the win.

Lagerald Vick finished with 12 points for Kansas, despite an off night shooting the ball. He was 2 of 7 from beyond the arc, where the Jayhawks were just 4 of 21 as a team.

Brady Manek led the Sooners with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Doolittle added 10 points and Christian James had 11, though he was just 4 of 15 from the field and 1 of 7 from beyond the arc.

The Jayhawks got off to a slow start, but Dotson’s layup midway through the first half catapulted them on a 15-0 run. Most of it was fueled by defense, where Udoka Azubuike swatted a shot and turnovers turned into easy fast-break opportunities. Dotson capped it with a 3-pointer from the wing.

Oklahoma briefly nipped into the lead, but the Jayhawks closed with a 12-3 charge – Lawson scored his first two field goals after a 0-for-9 start – to take a 40-25 lead into the break.

The Sooners ramped up their defense, which had been holding opponents to 66.1 points, and made a run early in the second half. The highlight came when Doolittle threw down an alley-oop dunk to wrap up a run of nine straight points over the opening five minutes.

Lawson provided an answer for the Jayhawks.

The preseason Big 12 player of the year scored back-to-back baskets moments later. Then, after Dotson knocked down a 3 off a pretty assist from Marcus Garrett, Lawson added another basket to provide the Jayhawks a 58-45 lead and force Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger to call for a timeout.

Oklahoma got the deficit back to single digits by the final media timeout, and kept the game close the rest of the way. But the Jayhawks, despite missing crucial free throws, managed to hang on.

BIG PICTURE

Oklahoma had won seven straight heading into the Phog, yet the Sooners’ struggles in the venerable field house continued. They have lost 18 straight in the building, their last win coming in 1993.

Kansas struggled from the perimeter but made up for it with defense and determination. The Jayhawks tracked down loose balls, forced the Sooners into 17 turnovers and made enough free throws to survive.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma returns home for Bedlam against Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Kansas visits Hilton Coliseum to face Iowa State on Saturday.

By AVERY OSEN
Associated Press

MANHATTAN — It has been feast or famine from the perimeter for Texas this season.

Wednesday was a feast night for the Longhorns, who gorged themselves to the tune of 14 3-pointers as they won their Big 12 Conference opener for the 15th time in 23 seasons, pushing past short-handed Kansas State in the second half for a 67-47 victory.

Kansas State was without Kamau Stokes, who averages 11.1 points per game. Stokes missed much last season with a broken ankle and he reinjured the it during a morning shooting session and did not dress for the game. The Wildcats already were without Dean Wade, who is recovering for a foot injury.

Kace Febres hit 8 of 10 shots from the field, including 7 of 9 from 3-point range, and scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half for Texas (9-4, 1-0 Big 12), which won for the fourth time in their last five games. Kerwin Roach II added 10 points in the winning effort.

“Our guys did a really good job of keeping a winning mindset,” Texas coach Shaka Smart said. “We talked about that before this game because Kansas State always does a very good job of making it hard on you.”

The Wildcats (10-3) have struggled offensively, averaging 67 points per game coming into conference play, and losing Stokes further hampered their ability to score.

“I think we could’ve done a little bit better even without (Stokes and Wade) in there,” Barry Brown said. “Just get the ball moving side to side, I think motion worked a little bit for a stretch.”

Makol Mawien had 12 points and was the lone Kansas State scorer to reach double figures.

“We talked about getting it to (Mawien),” Wildcats coach Bruce Weber said. “He struggled a little bit early in the game and maybe tried too much.”

It was a good night for Texas from the 3-point line, shooting 64 percent and going 14-27, with five of those coming in the final five minutes.

Texas used a 33-12 run to end the game after trailing by as many as five in the second half.

With 10 minutes to play, Febres hit back-to-back three’s to give Texas a 40-35 lead and the Longhorns never trailed again.

“Shot preparation is everything,” Febres said. “Coach preaches always to stay in my shot and to make sure I am not leaning back. I make sure to keep in my mind every look and the results were pretty good today.”

The Wildcats used a 14-4 run to end the first half and start the second to take a two-point lead with 13 minutes left in the game.

Midway through the first half, Texas switched to a zone defense that stifled the Wildcats. K-State only went to the free throw line once while Texas shot three free throws in the first half.

BIG PICTURE
Kansas State will need to rely on their bench play much more to carry the through this stretch without Wade and Stokes.

Texas picked up a huge road win to start conference play. If they can shoot the ball that well most of the season they will be in great shape.

UP NEXT
K-State will take on No. 11 Texas Tech on Saturday in Lubbock.

Texas hosts West Virginia at 8 p.m. Saturday.

FHSU Athletics

Thanks in part to a program-record 11th-straight victory to start a season Sunday, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team continued its climb up the national rankings this week. The Tigers are now fifth in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll while they sit in third in the D2SIDA Media Poll, up one spot in each poll from the pre-holiday break rankings. It is the first time the Tigers have been in the top five in the national coaches poll since February 9, 2016 (5th).

The Tigers moved up a spot in both polls after a loss for Bentley University left 10 undefeated teams in Division II. The Tigers once again received a first-place vote in the coaches poll, as they were one of three programs listed atop at least one ballot (No. 1 Union-20 1st place votes, No. 2 Indiana-2).

Fort Hays State is the top of three MIAA programs recognized in this week’s Coaches Poll and is one of two league schools in the media rendition. This week’s opponent, Central Missouri, sits 15th in the coaches standings and 23rd in the media poll while Emporia State is 23rd in the Coaches Poll.

This is the 13th weekly coaches poll in which the Tigers have been ranked in the top five in the nation and the fourth time they have been ranked fifth. FHSU has spent two weeks ranked No. 1 in the nation, one week at No. 2, four weeks at No. 3 and two weeks at No. 4. The Tigers hold a 5-1 record as the fifth-ranked team in the national coaches poll.

The Tigers are now 62-22 all-time while ranked, including a 58-21 mark under head coach Tony Hobson. With Thursday’s trip to Warrensburg looming, the Tigers are 7-11 against ranked opponents while ranked themselves under Hobson.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – Kace Febres scored 23 points and Texas Longhorns won its Big 12 Conference opener for the 15th time in 23 seasons, picking up a 67-47 win over short-handed Kansas State on Wednesday night.

The Longhorns won for the fourth time in their last five games. Kansas State’s Kamau Stokes, who averages 11.1 points per game, reinjured the ankle that sidelined him for much of last season during a morning shooting session and did not dress for the game. The Wildcats were already without Dean Wade, who is recovering for a foot injury.

Febres hit 8 of 10 shots from the field, including 7 of 9 from 3-point range. Kerwin Roach II had 10 points in the winning effort.

The Wildcats (10-3) have struggled offensively, averaging 67 points per game coming into conference play, and losing Stokes further hampered their ability to score. Makol Mawien had 12 points and was the lone scorer to reach double figures.

It was a good night for Texas from the 3-point line, shooting 64 percent and going 14-27, with five of those coming in the final five minutes.

Texas used a 33-12 run to end the game after trailing by as many as five in the second half.

With 10 minutes to play, Febres hit back-to-back three’s to give Texas a 40-35 lead and the Longhorns never trailed again.

The Wildcats used a 14-4 run to end the first half and start the second to take a two-point lead with 13 minutes left in the game.

Midway through the first half, Texas switched to a zone defense that stifled the Wildcats. K-State only went to the free throw line once while Texas shot three free throws in the first half.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas State will need to rely on their bench play much more to carry the through this stretch without Wade and Stokes.

Texas picked up a huge road win to start conference play. If they can shoot the ball that well most of the season they will be in great shape.

UP NEXT

K-State will take on No. 11 Texas Tech on Saturday in Lubbock.

Texas hosts West Virginia at 8 p.m. Saturday.