The loss dropped the Tigers back down in the MIAA standings to eighth place, after entering the day in sixth.
Down 6-2 early, Fort Hays State used a 9-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. Pittsburg State countered with an 8-2 run to get the lead back at 14-13 with just over 10 minutes to play in the opening half. The lead traded hands a couple times before FHSU used an 8-0 run, all scored by James Fleming with a layup and two three-point field goals to take a 27-22 advantage at the 5:11 mark. But once again, PSU responded with an 11-2 run to get the lead back by four with just over a minute to play. Dom Samac drilled a three-pointer just before the buzzer to make it 33-32 in favor of PSU at the half.
Achoki Moikobu opened the second half with a three-pointer to put the Tigers back on top. Again, the lead went back and forth six more times before FHSU went up 50-49 on a Royce Williams jumper with 11:12 to go. But that was the last time the Tigers would lead in the game as PSU went on a tear, using an 18-4 run to seize control of the game. The Gorillas led by double figures the rest of the way.
Fleming led the Tigers with 15 points, hitting 4-of-9 field goals (including 3-of-7 three-point attempts) and 4-of-4 free-throw attempts. Moikobu added 14 points and Dom Samac finished with 13.
Josiah Gustafson led the Gorillas with 16 points, followed by Trevor Gregory with 15, Trey Starks with 12, and Dakota Jones with 11.
The Gorillas finished 47.9 percent from the field, but an impressive 96.3 percent at the free-throw line (26-of-27). FHSU finished 46.9 percent from the field, but just 29.2 percent beyond the 3-point line. The Tigers turned the ball over 15 times and were outrebounded 33-21.
The Tigers look to bounce back in their final home game of the season on Wednesday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, when they take on Washburn at 7:30 p.m. Washburn is just a game back of the Tigers in the MIAA standings.