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Tigers lose second straight
1/8/2012
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
Fort Hays State University men's basketball coach Mark Johnson evaluated Saturday's home game against Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University in three areas: missed free throws, missed layups and turnovers by the Tigers.
The problems led to another sluggish offensive effort and a 68-63 FHSU loss at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Fort Hays was ninth in the 11-team MIAA in scoring offense in conference play entering the contest and scored fewer than 67 points for the fifth time in the last six games.
"Our problem is, we just can't score," Johnson said.
Fort Hays, ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II, dropped back-to-back games for the first time since two road contests against Northwest Missouri State University and Missouri Western State University on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, 2010. The Tigers fell to 10-3, 4-3 MIAA, while Southwest Baptist improved to 9-7, 3-5 MIAA.
"Very disappointing game," Johnson said. "This was a game we had to win. We just didn't get it done."
SBU, a 3-point heavy team, ranked second in the league in conference-only statistics in offense (74.6), but second-to-last in defense (77.3). Saturday marked the fewest points the Bearcats had allowed all season. Fort Hays led by 10 early, but committed 14 first-half turnovers and trailed 31-27 at intermission.
"They were playing really good defense and switching on picks, switching on bigs," junior point guard Kendrick Morse, who led the Tigers with 17 points, said.
FHSU shot 40 percent from the field, but missed multiple layups and shot just 56 percent (9-of-16) from the free throw line. As well, FHSU had 18 turnovers, well higher than its season average of 14.3.
"When you can't score, eventually it takes a toll on your whole game," Johnson said. "...Usually when you play throughout a season, guys may go through a stretch where you struggle. Hopefully you have two guys that are struggling, but you have three other guys who are playing well. Then, it kind of switches around as the season goes on. Right now, it really feels like everybody is struggling."
Fort Hays senior Karron McKenzie, fourth in the conference in foul shooting at 86 percent, missed two free throws with the Tigers ahead 61-60 with 2:51 remaining. SBU freshman Preston Guiot sunk a jumper 13 seconds later to give the Bearcats a 62-61 lead; FHSU never again took the lead.
Fort Hays trailed 66-63 when Southwest Baptist had to inbound the ball at midcourt with 30 seconds remaining. With three seconds left on the shot clock, Tiger senior guard Moses Dayee was called for a foul near midcourt. SBU senior Ryan Dougherty, who led the Bearcats with 17 points, converted both free throws for a five-point lead.
"I just thought you shouldn't call that call with (three) seconds on the shot clock," Morse said. "But they did and we lost the game. We just need everybody to step it up and play like they can play, including myself, too. We all just got to come together and just keep the confidence, but we are going to turn things around."
FHSU will play host to Missouri Southern State University, the defending conference champion and ranked No. 14 in the national poll, in a 7:30 p.m. start Monday at GMC.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |