HAYS, Kan. – The Missouri Western Men’s Basketball (8-11, 2-6) battled back from a 19-point first half deficit before falling 84-74 on the road to Fort Hays State (13-5, 7-2), Thursday night.

Trailing by 13 at the half, the Griffons got hot in the second half to get the Fort Hays State lead to as few as three points with 2:32 to go (73-70), but couldn’t draw the game even or get over the hump.

NOTABLES

• The Griffons began the game up 5-0, but Fort Hays State answered with a 26-2 run to stake a 19-point lead Missouri Western’s second half run couldn’t conquer
• FHSU edged its lead to 15 with 11:28 to go, but a 13-5 MWSU run cut the Tiger lead to 63-57 with 8:44 to go
• The two teams traded punches and runs for the next seven minutes before Fort Hays State pulled away in the final minute, outscoring MWSU 7-1 over the final 71 seconds, mostly at the free throw line
• After shooting just 29 percent in the first half, MWSU used 56 percent shooting in the second to finish the game at 41 percent
• The Tigers knocked down 21-of-26 free throws while MWSU went 17-for-26 at the line
• Fort Hays State made three more baskets than Missouri Western, both teams knocked down nine three-point attempts

LEADERS

• Lavon Hightower scored a game and season-high 29 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field, adding a team-high seven rebounds with three assists and two blocks. He was 5-of-7 from three-point range and scored 20 of his points in the second half
• Tyrell Carroll scored 20 points with three assists and two steals. Carroll was 8-of-10 at the free throw line
• J.J. Jones had a season-high seven points to go with three rebounds in 16 minutes
• Bryan Hudson and Tyus Millhollin each scored seven

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western travels to Nebraska-Kearney (6-12, 1-8) on Saturday, Jan. 26
• Northwest Missouri handed UNK its sixth loss in the last seven games, 85-57, Thursday night.

— MWSU Athletics —