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Category: Sports
Tigers rally comes up short in series finale at NM Highlands
FHSU Athletics
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Fort Hays State came up on the short end of another high-scoring contest at New Mexico Highlands on Monday (Feb. 8), falling by a score of 15-12. The Tigers still won the three game series, sitting at 2-1 to open the season.
FHSU held leads three times in the game, but NMHU scored nine runs over the seventh and eighth innings to salvage the final game of the three-game set. FHSU still made it interesting in the ninth by scoring five runs after trailing 15-7 and got the potential tying run to the plate. But with two on and two outs, Austin Unrein flew out down the right field line to end the game.
Fort Hays State held leads of 3-0, 5-4, and 7-6 before the Cowboys rallied ahead for good with four runs in the seventh and five in the eighth.
Connor Ross had a huge game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a home run and five RBI. Joe Mapes recorded three RBI with one swing of the bat, a pinch-hit 3-run homer in the ninth to get the score to 15-12. Alex Weiss had two RBI. Austin Unrein had another solid game at the plate, going 3-for-6 with three runs scored.
FHSU outhit NMHU 18-11, but free runners allowed by Tiger pitching and fielding mistakes were costly. FHSU pitchers surrendered 11 walks and hit two batters, which turned into seven runs. Three of NMHU’s runs scored on the two errors committed in the game by FHSU.
FHSU starter Justin Hersch battled command issues and lasted just 1 2/3 innings. Two of the four runs he surrendered were earned. Will Amen and Connor Boyer each gave up a run in relief. Casey Sedbrook took the loss in 2.1 innings of work, surrendering three runs. Logan Herd and Giles Fox also gave up three runs each. Getting the final out of the eighth, Andrew Astalos was the only Tiger reliever not to give up a run in the game.
Corey Nelson picked up the win for the Cowboys in 2/3 innings of relief. Dylan Norris earned the save by getting the final out of the game.
Fort Hays State is scheduled to play in the Denver area this weekend with three games against Regis and one against Colorado Mines.
Wade named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
K-State Athletics
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Freshman Dean Wade earned Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors for the second time this season after scoring a career-tying 17 points in the win over No. 1 Oklahoma.
Wade, who won the weekly honor on Dec. 7 after hitting the game-winning jumper at Georgia, becomes the 10th Wildcat to earn multiple Newcomer of the Week honors in the same season and the first since Marcus Foster in 2014. Overall, it marks the school’s 30th Newcomer of the Week honor since the inception of the Big 12 in 1997, including the fourth under head coach Bruce Weber.
The 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward from St. John, Kan., Wade helped K-State to a 1-1 record this past week against consecutive Top 10 opponents, including an 80-69 win over the top-ranked Sooners. It marked the school’s fifth win over a No. 1 team, including the fourth at Bramlage Coliseum (1990, 2010, 2011 and 2016).
Wade responded to his first time coming off the bench against No. 1 Oklahoma, tying his career-high for the third time with 17 points on 7-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in 27 minutes. It marked the first time since his sophomore year of high school that he hadn’t started a game and the first in his 23-game K-State career. He also tied season-highs for 3-pointers (3) and assists (3). He also scored 17 points in wins against Columbia (11/16/15) and Georgia (12/4/15).
For the week, Wade averaged 11.0 points on 64.3 percent shooting (9-of-14), including 50 percent (3-of-6) from 3-point range, to go with 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.5 minutes per game.
The Wildcats’ rebounding leader (5.8 rpg.), Wade is the only true freshman to rank in the Big 12’s Top 20 in rebounding this season. He ranks second on the team in offensive (53) and defensive (80) rebounds and blocked shots (14), while he is third in scoring (10.2 ppg.), double-figure scoring games (12), field goals made (82) and attempted (186) and free throws made (54) and free throws attempted (84).
K-State (14-9, 3-7 Big 12) concludes its two-game homestand on Wednesday night, as the Wildcats host No. 13/15 Baylor (17-6, 6-4 Big 12) at 7:15 p.m. CT on ESPNews. Tickets are priced at $12.50 with the Wildcat4Pack, in which, fans can purchase four general admission seats for just $75.
Broncos defense dominates Panthers in Super Bowl win
By BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Von Miller forced two fumbles to set up Denver’s two touchdowns and the Broncos defense frustrated Cam Newton all game to carry Peyton Manning to his second Super Bowl title with a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Miller had 2 1/2 sacks to go along with the two forced fumbles and was named the Super Bowl MVP.
Manning threw for just 141 yards and committed two turnovers in one of the least productive games of his brilliant career that could be coming to an end.
But with Miller leading a defense that recorded a Super Bowl record-tying seven sacks and forced four turnovers for the Broncos (15-4), Manning ended an up-and-down, injury-riddled season with another title to go with the one he won with Indianapolis nine years ago.
Newton’s MVP season ended in disappointment for the Panthers (17-2). He lost two fumbles, threw an interception and failed to produce a touchdown for the only time this season.
FHSU baseball rallies to beat NM Highlands
FHSU Athletics
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Fort Hays State moved to 2-0 to start the season with a 9-7 win over New Mexico Highlands on Sunday. Down 6-3, FHSU scored six runs over the final three innings, while Jackson Rolfs and Logan Herd shut the door on the Cowboys late. The Tigers are out to their first 2-0 start since 2010.
The Tigers picked up a win in comeback fashion for the second straight day against the Cowboys. FHSU trailed 2-0 after one inning, but cut the lead in half on a Connor Ross RBI in the third. The Tigers took their first lead of the game in the fifth with a Caleb Cherryholmes RBI double and an Austin Unrein single.
FHSU starter Kyle Vogt settled in nicely after allowing the two runs in the first. But he finally ran into trouble in the sixth. He surrendered a run in the fifth that tied the game, but then gave up a two-run homer in the sixth to give the lead back. That was the end of his afternoon, going 5.2 innings and allowing five runs (four earned), while striking out four. The Cowboys tacked on another run by error with Clayton Basgall on in relief.
Down by three, the Tigers fought back in the top of the seventh with a four-run, two-out rally. Ross started it with an RBI double, then Alex King had an RBI single to cut the deficit to one. Alex Weiss stepped to the plate and hit a two-run homer down the left field line to push the Tigers back in front 7-6.
Basgall struggled to open the bottom of the seventh, allowing the Cowboys to load the bases before handing the ball to Rolfs. Rolfs induced a double play on which the tying run scored, but then got a fly out to get out of the bases loaded, no-out jam.
In the eighth Ty Redington put the Tigers back in front with a solo homer and Rolfs worked a scoreless bottom half of the inning. Weiss gave the Tigers an insurance run in the ninth with an RBI single, then freshman Herd entered and worked a 1-2-3 inning on the mound for his first collegiate save.
Unrein had his second-straight three-hit game, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Redington, Cherryholmes, Ross and Weiss all had two hits. Weiss had three RBI, while Ross had two. Rolfs picked up the win in relief.
The Tigers look for a three-game sweep of the Cowboys on Monday when they take the field at 12 pm MT/1 pm CT.
Illinois State rallies to end Wichita State’s 12-game win streak
By SEAN NEUMANN
Associated Press
NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Paris Lee had a career-high 19 points to help Illinois State beat No. 21 Wichita State 58-53 on Saturday night.
Deontae Hawkins scored 14 points for Illinois State (14-11, 8-4 Missouri Valley), which erased a 16-point deficit in the second half.
Wichita State (17-6, 11-1) had won 12 in a row. Shaquille Morris and Ron Baker each scored 10 points for the Shockers, who shot 35.2 percent (19 for 54) from the field.
Chiefs Peters, Berry honored by NFL
By BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kansas City’s Marcus Peters is the first cornerback in 17 years to win The Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Safety Eric Berry, who missed 10 games the previous season battling lymphoma, then returned to the Chiefs to become an All-Pro, has won The Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
Peters, a first-round selection (18th overall) out of Washington, was a key to the Chiefs’ 11-game winning streak this season that helped them to the divisional playoff round. He tied Cincinnati’s Reggie Nelson for the NFL lead with eight interceptions. Peters returned two for scores, one covering 90 yards. He also had a pick in the postseason.
That performance earned Peters 45 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the NFL. Buffalo CB Ronald Darby was next with four votes, and one ballot went to Jets lineman Leonard Williams.
Oakland’s Charles Woodson was the previous cornerback to win the award, which was presented Saturday night as part of NFL Honors.
Berry’s inspirational story and superb performance on the field earned him 38 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the league. Berry was a mainstay on a Kansas City defense that sparked a 10-game winning streak during the regular season.
He easily outdistanced Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer, who came back from knee surgery to lead the Cardinals to a 13-3 regular season. Palmer received six votes.
Kansas State upsets top-ranked Oklahoma
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Wesley Iwundu scored 22 points, freshman reserve Dean Wade had 17 and Kansas State upset top-ranked Oklahoma 80-69 on Saturday night to shake up the Big 12 race once again.
D.J. Johnson added 12 points and Justin Edwards 11 for the Wildcats (14-9, 3-7), who snapped the Sooners’ four-game win streak by holding in check player of the year front-runner Buddy Hield.
The high-scoring guard had 23 points, but a big chunk came in the final minutes, when the Sooners (19-3, 7-3) were desperately trying to rally against a team that wouldn’t budge an inch.
It was Kansas State’s first victory against a No. 1 team since topping Kansas on Feb. 11, 2011, and just the fifth time the program has knocked off the nation’s best team.
Late run lifts Tigers past Southwest Baptist
By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State closed on a 28-12 run after falling behind by one with 8:26 to play and beat Southwest Baptist 81-66 in front of 3,385 Saturday at Gross Coliseum. The Tigers (15-7, 9-7 MIAA) built a five-point halftime lead and were up six midway through the second half when the Bearcats (9-13, 4-12 MIAA) put together an 11-4 run to take the lead on a Logan Hovey 3-pointer.
FHSU scored the next seven to take the lead back for good.
Mark Johnson Postgame Interview
Dom Samac Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
Dom Samac scored 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the Tigers. The senior center was 6-of-7 from the floor including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc and hit 11-of-13 free throws. Rob Davis hit a couple of key 3-pointers late and scored 20. Jake Stoppel added 18
Logan Hovey led Bearcats with 21.
Hot shooting carries No. 7 FHSU women over Southwest Baptist
By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State shot 68-percent in the first half in building a 26-point halftime then held on in the second half for a 96-84 win over Southwest Baptist Saturday afternoon in front of 2,735 at Gross Coliseum. The Tigers (20-2, 14-2 MIAA) built a 28-point lead midway through the third quarter only to see the Bearcats (12-10, 7-9) respond with a 23-4 run to pull within nine late in the third.
Nikola Kacperska hit a 3-pointer at the horn to push the lead to 12 heading into fourth qurter. The Tigers then then knocked down 10 of their 11 free throw attempts in the final period to hold off the Bearcats comeback bid.
Tony Hobson Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
The Tigers shot a season-high 57-percent for the game and set a season-high in points scored. They were led by senior guard Beth Bohuslavsky who scored a career-high 25 and led the team with seven rebounds. She went 8-for-10 from the floor including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc and was 9-for-11 from the free throw line.
Kacperska hit three 3’s and scored 16. Jill Faxon added 13, Paige Lunsford 12 and Chelsea Mason 11.
Leann Terrill and Megan Rosenbohm both scored 19 to lead SBU who beat handed their Tigers their first loss of the season back in December in Bolivar.
Tiger baseball wins season opener
FHSU Athletics
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Fort Hays State baseball team started the season off with a win for the first time since 2012 with a 12-9 victory over New Mexico Highlands in 10 innings on Saturday. The Tigers trailed early giving up six runs in the first two innings, but had enough grit and a little help from the poor defensive play by NMHU to complete the comeback.
The Tigers started the comeback in the top of the third inning when Austin Unrein and Ty Redington both scored on a two-out error by the Cowboys making the score 6-2 until the top of the fourth. Unrein, with a single, made it all the way home on a fielding mistake by the NMHU center fielder.
The Tigers managed for four runs in the fourth inning with four hits, a hit batter, and a walk to tie the game at 6-6. Trevor Hughes and Caleb Cherryholmes each had one RBI, while Unrein netted two on a single to tie the game. In the bottom half of the inning the Cowboys reclaimed the lead as a hit batter came around to score after a two out error from the Tigers.
The Tigers went on to score three more runs in the next two innings but were shut out in the final three. Alex Weiss tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and Cherryholmes and Joe Mapes each had RBIs in the sixth to give FHSU its first lead.
The Tigers held a 9-7 advantage going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but suffered one run in each of the next two innings making the game 9-9 going to the ninth inning. Each team went 1-2-3 in the ninth frame, giving the fans some free afternoon baseball.
In the 10th inning the Tigers took advantage of several Cowboy mistakes. Weiss led the inning off with a double, and ended up on third after a sacrifice bunt from pinch hitter, Colton Helm. The next batter, Nick Hammeke struck out swinging but the Cowboy catcher dropped the ball and overthrew first base allowing Weiss to score and Hammeke to advance to second. After Redington lined out, Cherryholmes hit a ball to right field that was dropped allowing Hammeke to score. Unrein then stepped up to the plate and delivered an insurance run with an RBI single to make it 12-9.
The Cowboys had no answer as Giles Fox struck out the side in the bottom of the 10th, sealing the tiger victory. Fox retired the final eight batters of the game to secure a win in 2.2 innings of relief, striking out five total.
Unrein led the Tigers offensively going 3-for-6 with three RBI and a stolen base. Weiss added two hits, both doubles, and an RBI, while Connor Ross chipped in two hits of his own.
The Tigers face off against the Cowboys again on Sunday at 12 pm MT.
Ellis double-double leads No. 7 Kansas in win at TCU
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Basketball Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Perry Ellis had 23 points and 10 rebounds as No. 7 Kansas started the second half of the Big 12 Conference schedule with a 75-56 victory at TCU on Saturday.
The Jayhawks (19-4, 7-3 Big 12) had lost their previous three conference road games. They never trailed after scoring the game’s first seven points.
With the quick start and in a road arena about half-filled with their own fans, the Jayhawks won for the 12th time in 13 games against TCU (10-13, 1-9). The Horned Frogs’ only victory in the series came exactly three years ago Saturday, when they won in the Big 12 for the first time.
Devonte Graham added 15 points for the Jayhawks, who shot 50 percent from the field (29 of 58) and had a 46-25 rebounding advantage.
Brandon Parrish and JD Miller each had 13 points for TCU (10-13, 1-9).
TMP dominates Norton
By JEREMY McGUIRE
Girls: TMP 61, Norton 47
TMP outscored Norton 24-12 in the third quarter to blow open what was a close game at halftime. The Lady Monarchs held a 50-31 lead going into the fourth quarter and led by as many as 22 points in final period before Norton closed the gap late. TMP was never threatened on their way to their 10th straight win.
Megan Koenigsman led all scorers with 24 points for the Lady Monarchs. Madyson Koerner and Kayla Vitztum both chipped in with 10. TMP is now 12-2 overall and 5-1 in the Mid Continent League. The Lady Monarchs will host Scott City on Tuesday.
ROSE MCFARLAND INTERVIEW
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Boys: TMP 76, Norton 50
TMP used a 21-4 run to close the first quarter and take a 24-11 lead on the road in Norton on Friday night. Jared Vitztum scored 15 of TMP’s 24 first quarter points to lead the charge. The Monarchs led 41-28 at the half and continued their domination in the second half winning 76-50.
Vitztum finished with a game high 28 points for TMP who has now beaten Norton twice this season. Peyton Hoffman added 17 and Ryan Ruder 11. TMP improves to 11-3 on the season and 6-0 in the Mid Continent League. The Monarchs will host Scott City on Tuesday at Al Billinger Fieldhouse.
JOE HERTEL INTERVIEW
GAME HIGHLIGHTS