Can't
get to the game? Don't worry, we've got ya covered.
Tigers look to close out strong
12/17/2009
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
The Fort Hays State University men's basketball team has never had such an impressive first semester resume since the Tigers joined the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association four seasons ago.
The Tigers can complete their run Friday when they host NAIA opponent Bethel College at Gross Memorial Coliseum in a 7 p.m. tipoff.
"I don't think we could ask for anything more," Fort Hays coach Mark Johnson said. "I think we could play a lot better. We are not playing good enough to compete for a conference championship. We are not playing good enough, but I don't think we can get off to any better start first semester if we close the deal (Friday)."
A victory would bump FHSU to 9-1 entering the holiday, its best start since the 27-4 team in 2005-06 that resided at No. 1 in the country for a few weeks. Fort Hays' lone setback is 83-76 at Kansas State University.
The Tigers, who entered the season receiving votes in the Division II national poll, have vaulted up the national rankings to No. 14, their highest ranking since they were 10th in the first week of 2006-07.
In addition, Fort Hays has started 3-0 in the conference after beginning 0-5, 1-3 and 0-2 in MIAA play the last three seasons. This week, FHSU had a limited schedule because of final exams. Friday will mark the Tigers' first contest since last Saturday, a 67-54 win against Missouri Western State University. That victory culminated a stretch of five games in 13 days, including four games in eight days.
"This was a very difficult two weeks, probably the most games I remember any of our teams playing," Johnson said.
On Dec. 11, the day before Fort Hays played Missouri Western, the Tigers had just started to warm up for practice. Senior forward Ryan Herrman said: "My legs are dead."
"When you here Ryan say something like that, it tells you how you think the rest of the guys are," Johnson said. "Ryan and Corbin (Kuntzsch) are about the two toughest guys we have ever had here. Just proud of the guys to battle through one more time."
The Tigers have four players averaging in double figures, led by 6-foot-9 junior forward Ken Bowman at 13 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Kuntzsch delivers 11.4 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds a contest. Junior guard Dominique Jones is averaging 11.1 points and senior forward Tim Peintner is scoring 10.1 points per game. FHSU is permitting 60 points a contest, best in the conference.
"We don't want to run (as punishment at practice), so we just play hard," Jones said. "It's all about pride when we are playing defense. He challenges you every day. The coaching staff, they like to challenge you, so as a man, you got to take pride in that and hold your fort down, especially at home and any game you play, you got to take pride in what you do."
In conference play, Fort Hays has allowed 68, 66 and 54 points, holding all three teams at least 21 points below their season average.
"I think our guys are doing a good job defensively," Johnson said. "The area where I think we got to get a lot better is on the offensive end. We don't execute quite well enough (against Missouri Western). We still shot 50 percent in the first half. We didn't finish around the basket like we need to. ... Defensively, we are not where we need to be, but I think for first semester, they are doing a very nice job."
Fort Hays, 6-0 at home this season, has won seven straight home contests and nine of the past 10. The Tigers' last non-conference home loss was 70-65 to University of Nebraska-Kearney in the 2006-07 season. The Tigers have never lost to an NAIA team in Johnson's eight-plus years. Bethel carries a 4-7 record into Friday's contest. The game will count as an exhibition for the Threshers.
After Friday, FHSU will be off until the Tigers play host to MIAA rival Washburn University on Dec. 30 at GMC.
"If we can find a way to get that win versus Bethel, what a tremendous first semester," Johnson said.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |