Can't
get to the game? Don't worry, we've got ya covered.
Back at full force
1/18/2010
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
The Fort Hays State University men's basketball team had one of its top players back in the starting lineup in a 69-56 road win against Pittsburg State University on Saturday. Senior forward Tim Peintner, a returning all-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association selection, had not started in four games after he injured his ankle on Dec. 30 against Washburn University.
"The main thing is we get Tim's confidence level going," Fort Hays coach Mark Johnson said. "His ankle, it's close enough for him to be an effective player."
Peintner missed two full games, played just one minute versus Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University and then saw 16 minutes off the bench versus Missouri Southern State University.
Versus PSU, Peintner played 22 minutes and scored four points on 2-of-5 shooting. He also picked up three assists and four turnovers. He helped FHSU, ranked sixth in NCAA Division II, move to 15-1 overall, 9-0 in the conference.
"It's big. Tim is a skill guy," Johnson said of the 6-foot-6 Peintner.
"He can step out and he can shoot the basketball. He is a tough matchup at our level. You put a big guy on him, he shoots 3s. If you have a guy like his size, Tim is pretty good in the post. A real matchup problem in Division II."
A three-year starter, Peintner averaged 12.3 points and 7.1 rebounds in 2008-09 to pick up an all-MIAA honorable mention honors. This season, Peintner is averaging 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds. He is Fort Hays' fifth-leading scorer and third-best rebounder.
"It's just a plus having him," senior point guard Willie Hassell said. "What more can you say? It's Tim. He is not 100 percent at all right now, so we know that once he gets back 100 percent we are going to be at a higher level again."
Bowman's bad tooth
On Saturday morning, Johnson didn't think junior forward Ken Bowman would play. Bowman had a tooth abscess that Johnson labeled "real bad." Bowman, who averages 11.6 points a contest, still started and played 13 minutes, finishing with four points and six rebounds. Bowman has received medication and will likely play Wednesday at Emporia State University.
"I was proud of him for putting the uniform on and giving what he had today and giving 13 minutes, because I think we did have some foul troubles and we needed his big body and he gave what we had," Johnson said.
Smith playing well
In recent games, MIAA defenses have often focused on Bowman in the post. That's helped 6-foot-8 junior forward Dijon Smith enjoy a strong season off the bench. Smith, who has not started a game all season, averages 16.4 minutes a game. However, he averages 8.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and shoots a team-best 64.3 percent from the field. Smith doesn't qualify for the MIAA leaders, but would rank first in the conference in field goal percentage.
"He is just an opportune guy," Johnson said. "He just seems to be at the right place at the right time. That's probably a difference right now between him and Ken. Ken has to learn everything. Part of that is probably the defense is focusing on (Ken), but Dijon just does a good job. He is opportunistic. He finds the ball right next to the basket."
Hassell, Jones distributing, scoring
Earlier in the season, Johnson said Hassell and junior point guard Dominique Jones were the Tigers' "keys to our season." The duo has continually played well, including solid performances Saturday. Jones collected 10 points, five assists and three turnovers, while Hassell tallied a game-high eight assists versus seven turnovers. Jones is second on the team with 13.3 points a game, while Hassell averages 9.9 points.
"Willie is playing good," Johnson said.
"I thought that at times he reverted back and tried to do too much. When he tries to do too much, that's what happens, seven turnovers. Just be solid and let the plays happen. What I try to tell him and Dominique especially, you can't make great plays happen. Sometimes they are trying to push the issue. Just make solid plays, solid plays, solid plays. A great play just accidentally happens. That's what we've got to keep doing."
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| SB | 03/08 | Fort Lewis | W 5-4 |
| BB | 03/07 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 13-7 |
| BB | 03/06 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 16-4 |
| BB | 03/06 | No. 9 Emporia State | W 3-0 |
| MB | 03/05 | Emporia State | L 65-61 |
| BB | 03/05 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 10-3 |
| WB | 03/04 | No. 15 Emporia | L 72-66 |
| WB | 02/28 | No. 12 Emporia State | L 87-80 |
| MB | 02/28 | Emporia State | W 94-47 |
| SB | 02/28 | Quincy | L 6-0 |
| SB | 02/27 | Mo Southern | W 9-3 |
| SB | 02/27 | Missouri S&T | L 8-3 |
| SB | 02/27 | Drury | W 17-10 |
| BB | 02/27 | Mo. Western | W 17-0 |
| BB | 02/27 | Mo. Western | W 3-2 (10 inn.) |
| BB | 02/26 | Mo. Western | W 12-8 |
| BB | 02/26 | Missouri Western | W 11-10 |
| MB | 02/24 | Pittsburg State | W 69-60 |
| WB | 02/24 | Pittsburg State | L 78-74 |
| MB | 02/21 | Mo. Southern | L 76-57 |