HAYS, Kan. (Jan. 5, 2017) -- Fort Hays State rallied from a five-point deficit with just over a minute to play to beat Central Missouri 74-73 on Thursday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum. With the loss, UCM drops to 8-4 overall and 2-2 in MIAA play.
The Mules led 71-66 with 1:15 to play in the game after
DJ Richardson sank a pair of free throws, but the Tigers (9-4, 3-2 MIAA) outscored the Mules 8-2 the rest of the way to get the win.
Rob Davis hit a corner three to pull the Tigers within two with 1:00 to play and following a turnover by the Mules, Hadley Gillum made one of two free throws to make it a one-point game. Fort Hays State forced another UCM turnover on the ensuing inbounds pass and with :27 to play, Davis hit a jumper to put the Tigers in front.
The Mules had another shot with :05 left, but
Marquiez Lawrence couldn't get the shot to go and he was tied up on the rebound, giving the ball back to FHSU. Davis was fouled on the inbounds and sank both free throws for a three-point lead.
Spencer Reaves was then fouled with :02 near half court to prevent a potential game-tying three-point attempt. He made the first and intentionally missed the second. The Mules were fouled on the rebound and went to the line for two. They were able to make the first, but missed the second and the Tigers secured the rebound for the win.
The Mules led by as many as seven in the second half. They opened the frame on a 5-0 run to grab their first lead of the game 35-33 with 18:38 to play. Fort Hays State responded with a 6-0 run of their own to regain the lead, but an 18-7 run over the next 8:22 gave the Mules a 53-46 lead with 9:26 to play. Down the stretch it turned in to a free throw shooting contest as 48 of the combined 68 free throws were shot in the second half.
The game was back and forth in the early going with the Tigers leading from the outset. The lead was just one at 10-9 nearly eight minutes in to the game. The Tigers would stretch the lead to as many as 10 in the first half at 29-19, but UCM closed the half on an 11-4 run and trailed just 33-30 at halftime.
Spencer Reaves and
DJ Richardson led three Mules in double figures with 14 points each.
Dushaun Rice chipped in a season-high 11. UCM shot 39 percent in the game, going 17-of-44. The Mules made just 6-of-19 three-point attempts for 32 percent, but were 33-of-40 at the free throw line for 83 percent.
Davis led FHSU with a game-high 34 points and Gillum chipped in 15 as only six Tigers scored in the game. Gillum added 13 rebounds as well. FHSU was 23-of-51 from the the field for 45 percent and made 7-of-16 from beyond the arc for 44 percent. The Tigers were 21-of-28 at the charity stripe for 75 percent.
The Mules looks to snap a two-game skid on Saturday when they take on Nebraska-Kearney. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. in Kearney, Neb.
