Can't
get to the game? Don't worry, we've got ya covered.
Gorillas in town to take on Tigers
2/23/2010
By RANDY GONZALES
rgonzales@dailynews.net
Mark Johnson figures one more win will get the Tigers into the NCAA tournament.
But playing well is just as important for the Fort Hays State University men's basketball team as it closes the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association regular-season schedule with two home games.
Fort Hays (20-5 overall, 14-4 MIAA), ranked 13th in the nation, will play host to Pittsburg State University (8-17, 2-16) on Wednesday at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The women's game tips off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Fort Hays will entertain Emporia State University (12-13, 8-10).
The Fort Hays men, ranked third in the South Central Regional, need to finish in the top eight to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Either do that, or win the MIAA postseason tournament.
"Probably one win locks it up," Johnson said of an NCAA Division II berth.
Finishing on a high note is important, Johnson said.
"We want some momentum going into the conference tournament and postseason," Johnson said. "We'll be disappointed if we don't win both."
Fort Hays lost its last game, on Saturday in Joplin, Mo., 76-57 against Missouri Southern State University.
Johnson said he wasn't making any excuses, but the grind of MIAA life on the road has taken its toll on the Tigers. Playing a good team on its home court hurt, too.
"You don't have any bad teams" in the MIAA," Johnson said. "Missouri Southern's pretty good."
Notching 20 wins and a runner-up finish in the conference are signs of a successful season.
"That is a very good year -- great year," Johnson said.
But the Tigers haven't been at their best recently, a concern for Johnson.
"I think we need to play better in the postseason," Johnson said. "Can't wait until postseason, need to do that this week."
On the surface, Pittsburg State would be a good candidate for a Tiger turnaround. The Gorillas lost 69-56 to the Tigers in Pittsburg last month and reside in the MIAA basement.
"They've got nothing to lose," Johnson said.
Pittsburg State is led by senior guard Spencer Magana and senior forward Rodney Grace. Magana averages 16.5 points per game and Grace scores 14.6 a night.
"Got to make other people beat you," Johnson said of Magana and Grace.
The Gorillas can get rough and tough, which could be a problem for the Tigers, who are more of a finesse team.
"They're a real physical team," Johnson said. "Those teams have given us problems this year."
Tiger junior guard Corbin Kuntzsch led Fort Hays with 24 points in the victory over Pittsburg State in the first meeting. Kuntzsch leads the Tigers in scoring at 13.5 points per game. Junior guard Dominique Jones is at 13.3 points per game.
The Fort Hays women have been having problems scoring din't recent games, and in Saturday's loss to Missouri Southern, the defense had problems, too. Fort Hays lost 91-53, the most points the Tigers have surrendered all season.
Fort Hays (15-10, 8-10) is averaging 67.4 points per game on the season, but the Tigers have been held under their average for the last seven games, going 1-6 in that span.
Slumping senior guard Naomi Bancroft is averaging 17.1 points per game, and senior forward Erica Biel is averaging 12 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds. Bancroft, who almost always is tightly-guarded on the perimeter, is shooting 34 percent from the floor and 32 percent from 3-point range.
Pittsburg State (12-13, 10-8)รขö beat Fort Hays 71-65 last month in Pittsburg. Senior center Nicole Combs leads the Gorillas in scoring at 13.5 points per game, followed by senior guard DePrice Taylor at 13 points per game.
Both Biel and McCombs had double-doubles in the first matchup. Biel scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while McCombs had 14 points and pulled down 14 rebounds.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |