By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Missouri Western men's basketball team got off to a strong start, playing their first game in 11 days Monday, but Fort Hays State (14-3, 8-3 MIAA) built a 17-point second half lead, and held on for a 76-71 win at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
In a game that had been postponed from Jan. 15, Missouri Western (8-10, 4-6 MIAA) started off strong, jumping out to a 13-5 lead in the first five minutes.
Fort Hays State responded, going on a 14-3 run later in the first half to go up 36-25 with 2:05 left until halftime. The Griffons punched right back, ending the first on an 8-0 run and trailing only 36-33 at the break.
"The way we started the game is what we're capable of," Missouri Western men's coach Will Martin said. "All of the credit in the world to our guys who are stepping up."
Missouri Western was without starting guard Reese Glover and starting forward Alex John Monday.
The Tigers, who won their third straight game overall, started the second half on a 15-7 run and went up 51-40 with 14:53 left. Both teams traded baskets for awhile after that, but Hays' lead eventually ballooned to 68-51 with 6:10 remaining.
Missouri Western, who lost its sixth in a row, did not quit. Key three-pointers in the final four minutes by Taye Fields, Q Mays and Zion Swader put the Griffons back in contention.
Western's last prayer was a clutch three by Swader with 24 seconds left, which made it a 74-69 ballgame. After Hays went 1-for-2 at the free throw line with 20 seconds to go, the Griffons had the ball back and got a key layup from fields, but it came with only six seconds left, and Western still trailed 75-71.
Missouri Western passed and shared the ball well through the day, ending with 10 assists.
"We did more of a small ball lineup today to get the ball moving a little bit more and it did," Martin said. "It looked good, but we have to execute for 40 minutes. I'm proud of our effort, but we have to execute.
"I'm proud of our team and I'm proud of our effort, but we have to execute for all 40 minutes. The ball moved a lot better today, but we still had 14 turnovers."
Mays, who missed Western's previous game against Kearney 11 days ago due to COVID, returned to the lineup Monday and led his team with 18 points. Fields came off the bench to score 15 points for a second consecutive game to go with six rebounds.
JaRon Thames was also solid with 14 points and six boards. First-team all-MIAA forward Jared Vitztum led four Tigers in double figures with 18 points and 10 rebounds - his ninth double-double of the season.
Nyjee Wright had 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Hays also won the rebounding battle 27-21, including 7-2 on the offensive glass.
"(Hays) did a really good job of getting their players into situations," Martin said. "Vitzum had 18 (points) on 7-of-15 shooting."
Missouri Western has a quick turnaround, going on the road Wednesday to face Central Missouri. The women lead things off at 5:30 and the men will follow at 7:30. Both games will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).
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