WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The 15th-ranked Mules battled back from 14 points down with under eight minutes to play, but came up one point short in a 69-68 loss to Fort Hays State on Thursday night at the Multi. With the loss, the Mules fall to 8-2 overall and 2-2 in MIAA play.
The Mules trailed 60-46 with 7:54 to play in the game when they started their comeback.
Spencer Reaves made two free throws that started a 10-1 run to pull UCM within four at 61-57. Dom Samac made two of four free throws for Fort Hays State (8-2, 2-2 MIAA) to push the lead back to six, but
Marquiez Lawrence and
D'Marnier Cunningham made back-to-back layups to pull the Mules within a pair at 63-61 with 1:36 to play in the game.
Samac's layup with 1:12 to play gave FHSU a four-point cushion, but
Tony Cochran hit a three from the corner to pull the Mules within one. Jake Stoppel made two foul shots with :35 to play, but Cunningham responded with a layup to again make it a one-point game. Stoppel again made two foul shots, this time with :16 to play, to put the Tigers up three. Reaves' layup with :07 to play again pulled the Mules within a single point. Following two missed free throws by Fort Hays State the Mules had a final shot, but Cunningham's jumper was off the mark at the buzzer and the Mules dropped their second straight home game.
The Tigers started the game on an 8-0 run only to see the Mules respond with a 17-2 run to grab a 17-10 lead midway through the first half. It was be UCM's largest lead of the night. The Tigers used a 14-3 run to regain the lead for good at 24-20. Following two free throws from Reaves, that cut the lead to two, the Tigers closed the half on a 10-4 spurt that gave them a 34-26 halftime lead.
Reaves led all scorers with 20 points.
Marquiez Lawrence recorded his third double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Tereke Eckwood finished with 13 points and Cunningham had 10. The Mules were 22-of-48 from the field for 45 percent, but made just 7-of-21 from the floor in the first half. The Mules were 4-of-18 from three-point range for 22 percent and 20-of-33 for 60 percent at the free throw line.
Stoppel led Fort Hays State with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Samac finished with 15 and Trey O'Neil had 12. FHSU was 26-of-56 from the floor for 46 percent and 7-of-13 from beyond the arc for 53 percent. The Tigers made 10-of-21 free throws for 47 percent.
FHSU out-rebounded UCM 38-34, including 13 offensive rebounds. They also had 13 assists compared to six for the Mules. UCM did force 18 Tiger turnovers and turn those into a 20-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
With the loss, the Mules have now lost back-to-back home games for the first time since the 2003-04 season. UCM looks to get back on the winning track when Nebraska-Kearney comes to the Multi on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. showdown. The final game before the semester break can be heard live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler on the call.
