HAYS, Kan. – Griffon men’s basketball (3-13, 1-8 MIAA) fell to Fort Hays State (12-5) 61-42 Thursday night inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. Missouri Western’s defense frustrated the Tigers and held them to 20 points below their season scoring average.

MWSU showed promise midway through the first half and looked to become the first team this season to beat FHSU at home. TJ Evans knocked down a jumper at the 9:51 mark to spark a 15-2 Griffon run. The run allowed Missouri Western to take a six-point lead with 3:42 left in the half. Fort Hays regained the lead with a 25-5 run over the next 14 minutes and never looked back.

Fort Hays moved to a perfect 10-0 at home on the season. For Missouri Western, it is the seventh consecutive loss.

NOTABLES
– Missouri Western held Fort Hays to 24 points under its home scoring average

– The Griffons limited FHSU to its second lowest scoring output of the season

– MWSU outscored the Tigers 24-16 in the paint

– Beau Baker scored six of the Griffon’s 15 points in their 15-2 first half run

– Fort Hays State’s Hadley Gillum had a game-high 19 points

UP NEXT
Missouri Western travels to Nebraska Kearney on Saturday, Jan. 20 for a 4 p.m. game. The Lopers knocked off No. 2 Northwest Missouri 66-59 in Kearney Thursday night.

— MWSU Athletics —