FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. â Fort Hays State shot the ball tremendously on Tuesday night (Feb. 21), but unfortunately, Nebraska-Kearney was even better. The Lopers defeated the Tigers 101-88 in a shootout, pushing the Tigers back to fifth place in the MIAA. UNK improved to 19-8 overall, 12-6 in the MIAA, while FHSU went to 16-10 overall, 10-8 in the MIAA.
The shooting percentages for both teams in the first half were insane, FHSU at 69 percent from the field and UNK at 62.1. From beyond the 3-point line, FHSU was shooting at a 71.4 percent clip and UNK was at 72.7. Both teams were a perfect 100 percent from the free-throw line. By halftime, nothing had been settled with the teams tied at 48-48.
Both teams continued the hot rate of shooting in the second half, but UNK pulled away from the FHSU by hitting at a 65.4 percent rate after halftime. FHSU shot 51.6 percent after halftime. The two big differences were the Lopers hit six more 3-point field goals, burying 14 for the game, and hit nine more free-throws. FHSU actually hit one more field goal overall in the game, edging UNK in that category 36-35.
Tiger fans had not seen an opponent score 100 points in Gross Coliseum since the 1994-95 season. The last time it occurred was an overtime game against Washburn, a 106-93 loss, on December 7, 1994. The last time an opponent reached 100 in regulation was the season opener that year on November 18, 1994, which the Tigers actually won 108-100. This was the first time in Mark Johnson’s tenure as head coach that an opponent reached the century mark inside the coliseum.
Fort Hays State enjoyed its last lead at the 16:31 mark of the second half at 56-55. The Tigers tied the game at the 15:11 mark, but UNK led the remainder of the game from the 14:23 mark to the final horn. A 7-0 burst by the Lopers capped at the 8:58 mark took a two-point lead to nine and the Tigers never recovered. The final margin of 13 was the largest lead of the game for UNK. The Lopers ran their win streak over the Tigers to four games, sweeping the regular season series.
Rob Davis and JaQuan Smith both had big contributions on Senior Night. Davis finished with 30 points, the eighth time this year he has gone for 30 or more, and Smith finished with 14. Hadley Gillum scored over 20 for the second straight game, adding 22 along with a team-high eight rebounds. Kyler Kinnamon reached double figures in scoring with 10.
Trey Lansman led the Lopers with 27 points and a team-high seven rebounds. He hit four of the team’s 14 3-pointers, while Isaiah McKay was 5-of-6 beyond the arc and finished with 23 points. Ty Danielson’s 20 gave the Lopers three players with 20 or more, and Yashua Trent tacked on 13 points. The UNK starting lineup matched Fort Hays State’s total scoring effort with the five finishing with 88 of the team’s 101 points.
The Tigers need to regroup fast as they play at Southwest Baptist on Thursday night in Bolivar, Mo. That will be the final regular season game of the season. The seeding picture for the MIAA Tournament will develop more as the week continues.