Box Score

EMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State used a 17-0 run in the second half to pull away and earn an 85-66 victory over No. 15 ranked Southwest Minnesota State in the season opener for both teams in men's college basketball.
 
The game, hosted by Emporia State, was part of the MIAA-NSIC Challenge held at White Auditorium.
 
FHSU shot 52 percent (33 of 64) from the field and held a 43-27 rebound advantage in earning the victory and avenging an SMSU win in last season's match-up held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
 
SMSU, which shot over 70 percent in the game's first 10 minutes, struggled in the game's final 30 minutes and closed the contest shooting 41 percent (23 of 56) from the field. SMSU finished the game connecting on 6 of 16 from 3-point range and making 14 of 24 free throws.
 
Carter Kirk led the Mustangs with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds for his eighth career double-double. Ryan Bruggeman chipped in with 15 points and seven assists, while KJ Davis and Taylor Schafer each added 10 points.
 
The teams played a tight opening half as both squad shot extremely well from the field. Schafer and Davis gave SMSU its largest lead of the first half at 14-9 with 13:57 left with back-to-back 3-pointers.
 
FHSU would later rally with a 6-0 run to take a 27-22 lead midway through the first half. Schafer would later connect on a 3-pointer to give the Mustangs it last lead of the game at 31-29 with 8:45 remaining in the half.
 
The game was tied at 35 following two free throws by Turner Moen at the 6:24 mark, but FHSU rallied with a seven straight points to build its largest of the half at 42-35. SMSU would go more than six minutes without a field goal before Davis ended the drought with jumper at the 1:14 mark to cut the deficit to 42-37 at halftime.
 
Bruggeman hit a pair of free throw with 16:03 left in the second half to cut the FHSU lead to 49-43, before the Tigers reeled off 17 straight points to push the lead to 66-43 with just under 13 minutes remaining.
 
SMSU would later use a 12-2 run—capped by six straight points by Kirk—to cut the deficit to 74-59 with 7:43 remaining. Davis would later hit a 3-pointer to make the score 76-62, but the Tigers answered with a 7-1 run to put the game away.
 
Payton Stephens was one of five Tigers to score double digits with 15 points on 6 of 7 shooting with five rebounds and three blocked shots.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues weekend play tomorrow facing Emporia State (Kan.) with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.