FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State re-entered the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 on Tuesday, grabbing 56 votes for the 25th spot after sweeping last week’s action against rivals Emporia State and Washburn at home.

FHSU (15-4, 8-4 MIAA), which had 29 votes in last week’s poll, took down then No. 3 ESU on Thursday (Jan. 30), 72-57, and on Saturday (Feb. 1), defeated WU, 69-62.   ESU (now No. 7) joins the Tigers as one of three MIAA teams in the Top 25.  The other squad, Central Missouri, fell one spot, from 12th to 13th.  Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern are in the receiving votes section of the poll.  PSU earned eight points, while MSSU had five points.   The Tigers have been in the WBCA Top 25 three times this season, ranking 23rd on Jan. 14, and 24th on Jan. 21.

FHSU travels to Nebraska-Kearney on Feb. 5 (Wednesday) for a 5:30 p.m. contest, and to Emporia, Kan., for a rematch with ESU on Saturday, Feb. 8.

The complete WBCA Top 25 poll is below…

Others Receiving Votes: Edinboro University (Pa.) 47; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 45; University of District of Columbia (DC) 37; Lenoir-Rhyne University (N.C.) 27; Montana State University – Billings 26; California State University – Dominguez Hills 16; Concordia University (Minn.) 12; Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho) 12; Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) 12; Clayton State University (Ga.) 10; Adelphi University (N.Y.) 9; Pittsburg State University (Kan.) 8; Indiana University of Pennsylvania 6; Texas A&M International University 6; Western Washington University 6; Michigan Technological University 5; Missouri Southern State University 5; Saint Edwards University (Texas) 4; Saint Mary’s University (Texas) 4; University of Tampa (Fla.) 4; Georgia College 3; Minot State University (N.D.) 3; Stonehill College (Mass.) 3; Academy of Art University (Calif.) 2; Young Harris College (Ga.) 2; Belmont Abbey College (N.C.) 1; Lee University (Tenn.) 1; Philadelphia University (Pa.) 1; Saint Leo University (Fla.) 1; Simon Fraser University (BC) 1; University of Alaska – Anchorage 1.

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State sophomore point guard Craig Nicholson was named the MIAA Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week for the third time this season on Monday (Feb. 3).

He was honored for his efforts in a pair of overtime wins at home over in-state rivals Emporia State and Washburn. Nicholson averaged 29.5 points, 7.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game last week.

He scored a career-high 36 points in the double-overtime win against Emporia State. He scored 11 of the last 12 points in regulation for FHSU, the last bucket coming with 11 seconds left to tie the game and force overtime. Nicholson added 14 points over the two overtimes, including 10 in the second overtime. His 3-point play with 50 seconds remaining put FHSU up four (its largest lead margin of the game to that point). ESU would not get closer than three points the rest of the way.

Against Washburn, he scored 22 of his 23 points in regulation, 15 by halftime helping FHSU to a 14-point lead at the break. He had a team-high eight assists, including the pass to Dwayne Brunson for the game-winning shot that went through with 0.3 seconds remaining in overtime.

FHSU Sports Information

No. 6 Fort Hays State picked up its first conference dual victory on Sunday (Feb. 2), rolling over Newman, 36-15, at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

The Tigers (7-4-1, 1-2 MIAA) had three pins on the afternoon, as C.J. Napier (141), Noah Killip (149) and Mitchell Means (157) stuck their individual opponents. Josh Rodriguez (174) had a technical fall, while Bradley Little (165) picked up a major decision and Symon Seaton (133) had a decision.

FHSU was open in the 125 and 285 pound weight classes, and lost just one head-to-head match:  a 3-1 decision at 197 pounds (Chad Rous).

After the bye at 125 pounds, Seaton paired up with Kris Workman (NU).  Down 4-1 with less than 30 seconds to go, Workman used a takedown and a five-second near fall count to pull ahead and take the decision, 6-5.  Reed had one point of riding time.

Napier started a stretch of three straight pins for the Tigers, working against Wyatt Wade for two periods before sticking him just 21 seconds into the second period (fall time of 3:39).

Killip, in his first match since Dec. 15, took control early and picked up a first period pin over Zach Duwe in 1:58.

Means followed suit, winning by fall over Colton Duhr in just 2:34, and stretching the Tigers’ team score advantage to 21-6.

At 165 pounds, Little used a takedown late in the third period (under 20 seconds remaining) and riding time to stretch a decision into a major, defeating Noel Torres, 10-2.

Rodriguez won FHSU’s final head-to-head matchup of the night in impressive fashion, scoring early and often en route to a 17-2 technical fall as time expired.  Rodriguez racked up over two minutes of riding time to push the victory from major to a tech fall.

After Jon Inman’s forfeit victory at 184 pounds, Chad Rous dropped a 3-1 decision to Steven Cooksley and FHSU went open at heavyweight, sending the dual to a final score of 36-15.

Fort Hays State closes out the home portion of its 2014 dual schedule on Thursday (Feb. 6) against Central Missouri at 7 p.m.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Dwayne Brunson hit an 17-foot jump shot inside the free throw circle with less than one-second to play to lift the Fort Hays State Tigers to an 87-85 overtime win over Washburn Saturday afternoon in front of 4,877 at Gross Coliseum. The 24th-ranked Tigers have now won 10-straight and improve to 18-3 overall and 9-3 in the MIAA. Washburn drops to 14-5 and 7-5 in the conference.

The game was Fort Hays State’s sixth overtime contest this season which is a school and new MIAA record.

Fort Hays State led by 14 at the half and built their lead to 17 on four different occasions, the latest with 13:16 to play, but the Ichabods hit 10 second half 3-pointers and outscore the Tigers 36-19 to rest of the half. Washburn’s Alex North, who finished with 23 points, banked in a 3-pointer with under three seconds to play to force the overtime.

The Ichabods built their biggest lead of the game with 1:28 to play in overtime but Carson Konrade answered with a three from the right wing with 1:02 to play to tie the game 85-85. Craig Nicholson missed a shot with under 10 seconds to play but the Tigers forced a jump ball and had the final possession with two-seconds to play setting up Brunson’s game-winning heroics.

Craig Nicholson led the Tigers with 23 points, Brunson added 19, James Fleming added 17 and Konrade 13.

The Tigers shot 49-percent from the field and 9-of-16 from 3-point range and connected on 26-of-30 from the free throw line. Washburn finished 14-of-25 from beyond the arc but were just 15-of-22 from the foul line.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview


Game Highlights

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

The Fort Hays State Lady Tigers outscore Washburn 14-6 over the final 4:42 and defeat the Ichabods 69-62 Saturday afternoon at Gross Coliseum. The Tigers improve to 15-4 overall and 8-4 in the MIAA while Washburn falls to 13-6 and 8-4 in the coneference.

The Tigers used an 11-2 run to build a nine-point lead with 5:11 to play in the first half and were up seven at halftime. A Tera Ingalsbee 3-pointer pushed the lead to 10 early in the second half. Washburn tied the game at 43 with 12:31 to play then pulled within one at 55-54 with 4:42 to go before the Tigers took control down the stretch.

Foe a second straight game, the Lady Tigers were dominant on the glass, outrebounding the Ichabods by 18 and scored 24 second chance points off of 19 offensive rebounds.

Kate Lehman led the Tigers with 14 points despite playing only 17 minutes because of foul trouble. Nikola Kacperska added 11 and Tera Ingalsbee 10.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights