MIAA Showcase: Late Run Powers UCM Past FHSU

UCM Uses Second Half Rally To Snap FHSU's Winning Streak

MIAA Communications

Andrew Mather Photography

Men's Basketball | 1/3/2019 10:52:43 PM


Each week David Boyce, the MIAA’s featured writer, will cover a key match-up in one of the conference’s sports. In this MIAA Showcase, Boyce covers the men’s basketball game between Fort Hays State and Central Missouri.

WARRENSBURG, Mo. - At a point when University of Central Missouri men’s basketball team was on the brink of an 0-3 start in conference play, the Mules found their mojo at the right moment.

Recovering from a seven-point deficit midway through the second half, Central Missouri went on a 22-5 run for a 10-point lead with 3 minutes left.

9209The Mules carried that spurt to victory, handing Fort Hays State its first conference loss, winning 63-54 Thursday evening at the Multipurpose Building. Central Missouri improved to 8-4 and 1-2 in the MIAA. Fort Hays State dropped to 8-4 and 2-1.

“This game gives us our confidence back after our early losses in conference,” Central Missouri junior guard James Byrd said. “This will push us mentally forward for Saturday’s game.”

Early in the second half, Fort Hays grabbed a 27-25 lead on a three-pointer by junior guard Aaron Nicholson and then expanded it to 33-27 on two three-pointers by senior Brady Werth.

The Tigers inched their lead up to 40-33 when the Mules decided to kick back. A 15-3 run gave Central Missouri a 48-43 lead with 7:27 left.

“We just had to get it together,” said Byrd, who came off the bench and scored 14 points. “We went into that timeout and coach told us we had to step up on defense, get one stop at a time. We had to get some easy buckets.”

A couple of key plays during the run came on a diving layup by junior forward Matt Wilkinson with 8:40 left that helped the Mules close to 43-41. After a stop, Central Missouri tied the game on a basket by Jafar Kinsey.

Central Missouri took its first lead since early in the second quarter on a corner three-pointer by Byrd. After a timeout, sophomore Daniel Farris scored, giving the Mules a 48-43 lead.

“I thought we really grew as a team during that stretch,” Central Missouri coach Doug Karleskint said. “We were going to find out what we were made of.

“Getting some big baskets on a night we weren’t shooting the ball great, and we got some baskets at the rim. And then James Byrd stepped up and made some huge shots from the outside for us.”  

A basket in the paint by Werth finally put an end to Central Missouri’s best offensive stretch of the game.

But that basket failed to slow the Mules’ momentum. Their lead grew to 55-45. When Fort Hays closed to 57-51 with a little over a minute to go, Byrd delivered the three-point dagger.

“In that stretch, you could see our team grow for a big win against a really good opponent,” Karleskint said.

In a first half that saw many lead changes, Central Missouri had the last one and went into halftime ahead 23-21. There were eight lead changes in the opening 10 minutes.

Trailing 11-9, the Tigers had their best spurt, going on a 9-1 run for an 18-12 lead. Central Missouri fought back and scored 11 of the next 13 points and moved ahead 22-20 late in the first half.