Men's Basketball Prayer
76
Winner Fort Hays St. FHSU 14-3,9-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
71
Missouri Western MW 8-10,4-6 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Fort Hays St. FHSU
14-3,9-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
76
Final
71
Missouri Western MW
8-10,4-6 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Fort Hays St. FHSU 36 40 76
Missouri Western MW 33 38 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Griffon Men Fall to Hays in Monday Matinee Return

Griffons emerge from 11-day Covid layoff with 76-71 loss

ST. JOSEPH, MO -  After an 11-day layoff, Missouri Western's return to play was spoiled in a 76-71 loss to Fort Hays on Monday at the Fieldhouse. 

Despite playing their first game since January 13th and without starters Reese Glover and Alex John in the lineup, the Griffons, (8-10, 4-6 MIAA) showed no signs of early rust.  MWSU came out strong, opening the game on a 13-5 run and shooting 59% in the first half. But the Tigers (14-3, 9-3 MIAA) settled in, nailing six-first half three pointers to take a 36-33 lead to the break.

Hays then took control early in the second half, using a 16-5 run to stretch their lead to as many as 17 points. Western trailed by 15 with 4:09 remaining, but outscored the Tigers 15-5 over the final four minutes to get to within four points in the final seconds before running out of time.

The Griffons shot a scorching 61% from the field but committed 14 turnovers. Hays shot 55% from the floor, and 61% from the three-point arc (8-13) in a balanced attack that saw four players score in double figures.

JaQuaylon Mays led Western with 18 points (6-13 FG) and freshman Taye Fields added 15 points (5-8 FG) and 6 rebounds.  JaRon Thames scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half on 7-9 shooting.  Freshman Justin Bubak also had 9 points on 4-4 shooting.  

MWSU has now lost six straight games and will return to action on Wednesday at Central Missouri for the second leg of MIAA play.  The Griffons defeated the Mules 79-65 on December 11th in St. Joseph. 

Notables

  • The Griffons were without starters Reese Glover (personal reasons) and Alex John (injury). Glover is out indefinitely and John's status is day-to-day. 
  • Monday's game was a Covid-rescheduled contest and a rare weekday matinee that saw a 3:30pm tip time. 
  • This marks the start of a 13-games in 26-day stretch due to Covid rescheduling. 
  • The Griffons, faced a similar challenge in the 2020-21 season that saw an 8-1 start, followed by a 14-day Covid shutdown.  MWSU then struggled through  a 7-game losing streak before winning 4 of 6 to clinch an NCAA Tournament berth. 
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