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Tiger men keep on winning

2/28/2008

By NICK McQUEEN

Hays Daily News

TOPEKA -- Anything his squad does from this point forward goes above and beyond what Fort Hays State University men's basketball coach Mark Johnson expected of the Tigers.

Thought to be a rebuilding year, the Tigers have surpassed expectations.

But for the Tiger players, said junior guard Terry Jeffries, it's just "doing what they do."

What Fort Hays is doing lately is winning, and thanks to a 69-66 win over Interstate 70 rival Washburn University at Lee Arena on Wednesday night, Fort Hays is in position to take second place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, and earn a berth in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional.

"I was surprised I hit that many 3s," said Jeffries, who posted a new career high of 23 points. "It felt good and it was falling so you stick with what's good.

"Knock down big shots -- that's what we do,"¬ Jeffries added.

One way or another, Fort Hays (18-8 overall, 10-7) has managed to win five games in a row now heading into Saturday's regular-season finale at home against Northwest Missouri State University. Thanks to just its third win at Lee Arena, Fort Hays has a chance to post a 19-win regular season.

"When you win like this, it's a team effort," Tiger coach Mark Johnson said. "They hung in there, never got their heads down."

Washburn (17-9, 9-8), which broke into the regional rankings this week at No. 10, had momentum on its side in the second half. After Jeffries broke loose for 19 first-half points and boosted the Tigers to a double-digit lead, Washburn battled back and took its third lead of the game with 3:52 to play on a breakaway jam by senior forward Kyle Snyder, the same way the Ichabods started the game.

"It's easy on the road to let everything fall apart (at that point) and lose your poise," Johnson said. "We did everything we needed to, to win the game."

Fort Hays responded with a 3-pointer by junior guard Tyrone Evans. Evans, who hit a game-winning 3-pointer when the Tigers beat Washburn 84-83 in Hays earlier this season, had two 3s in the final three minutes.

"Our guys just continually make the big shot when we have to make the big shot," Johnson said.

With the game tied at 63 after a pair of free throws from Tiger senior guard Corbin Kuntzsch, Fort Hays closed out the game on a 6-3 run. Evans' third trey of the night gave Fort Hays a 66-63 lead, and Kuntzsch scored on a follow shot for a 68-63 lead. Washburn senior guard Andrew Meile hit a 3 with 1:08 to play to make it 68-66, but a 1-of-2 effort by Tiger junior forward LaTravis Turner at the foul line extended the lead. Turner prematurely fouled Meile on the inbounds play, giving Washburn a 1-and-1. Meile missed the front end, setting up a desperation 3 on an inbounds play with four-tenths of a second remaining.

"The last five in there with four-tenths of a second played some great defense," Jeffries said.

Washburn was led by senior center Brady Sisk's 19 points. Snyder had 14.

The Ichabods are alone in sixth place in the standings, while Fort Hays is in a three-way tie for third place, with second-place Northwest Missouri State in town Saturday. The Tigers have lost just one home game this season. The current winning streak includes a home win over MIAA regular-season champion Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University. Fort Hays lost 69-53 at Northwest Missouri earlier this season.

"At their place, they're a tough defensive team," Jeffries said of the Bearcats. "At home is when we play our best, so it's going to be two good teams going at it."

Assistant sports editor Nick McQueen can be reached at (785) 628-1081 Ext. 128, or by e-mail at nmcqueen@dailynews.net.

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