Fort Hays State vs Kansas State Wildcats Match Player Stats On Dec 08, 2020

Things went from bad to worse for Kansas State on Tuesday as the Wildcats lost at home to Division II Fort Hays State 81-68 Tuesday night in Manhattan, Kan. The Wildcats never led.

Fort Hays State's record remains at 0-3 as the game counted as an exhibition for the Tigers while Kansas State slipped to 1-4.

Fort Hays State shot 55.2 percent from the field, including 10 of 24 (41.7 percent) from 3-point range. The Tigers, playing without their head coach, Mark Johnson, and his top assistant, Jeremy Brown, were coached by assistant Todd Johnston.

The Tigers had a balanced scoring attack, led by Jared Vitztum with 16 points. Kaleb Hammeke (15), Alvin Thompson (14), Quinten Rock (14), Bjarni Jonsson (12) and Gilbert Peters (10) also scored in double figures.

If there had been any question that Fort Hays State would wilt in the second half, it disappeared quickly. Leading by six, the Tigers scored the first five points of the half to take their first double-digit lead. When Vitztum hit a 3-pointer four minutes in, the Tigers led by 13 points.

The Tigers maintained a comfortable lead, stretching it to as many as 21. The Wildcats' night was epitomized by a missed dunk by DaJuan Gordon, who shot only 3 of 11 from the field (0 of 5 from 3-point range) for the game.

Kansas State never got within single-digits after Fort Hays State's spurt at the beginning of the half. Mike McGuirl led the Wildcats with 22 points. Gordon added 11 and Selton Miguel had 10.

The first half started slowly, with the teams combining for eight turnovers before Fort Hays State scored the game's first points. The score was tied three times before Fort Hays State went on an 8-0 run to take a 14-6 lead.

The Tigers took a 35-29 lead into halftime. The lead could have been larger if not for 13 turnovers. Vitztum, who was averaging 21.7 points per game, was held to four points in the opening 20 minutes.

The ineffective Wildcats were led by McGuirl with 10 first-half points. No one else had more than four. The Wildcats shot 9 of 25 before the break and had 11 turnovers and just one assist.

For the game, the Tigers produced a 34-26 rebounding advantage against the taller Wildcats.

--Field Level Media