ESU men’s basketball came out on top against Fort Hays State 58-44 in a game played at home on Feb. 13

The Tigers were the first to score, leading 5-4 with 16:40 left in the first half. Both teams went scoreless for the next three and a half minutes, until sophomore guard Brayson Laube made a step back jumper for the Hornets to take a 6-5 lead. 

Midway through the half, the Hornets led 10-8 and to increase their lead, ESU went on a 9-2 run topped off by a break away dunk by redshirt freshman guard Chris Harris. Harris added to his stats with a three-pointer that gave ESU a 32-19 lead with 1:01 left. In response, FHSU scored the final three points with a layup at the buzzer to make it 22-32 going into the break.

Following FHSU’s 6-0 start back from the half, the Hornets upped their defense to make sure the Tigers wouldn’t score for the next 7:24. ESU remained successful offensively with an 11-0 run for which sophomore guard Arhman Lewis scored the initial seven points. The run increased the Hornets’ lead 43-25 with 14:17 left. 

FHSU broke ESU’s run with a pair of free throws and a three-point play later got them within 30-43 with 11:13 left. Redshirt freshman guard Devin Conley made a basket with a pull up jumper near the elbow to give ESU a 15 point lead by bringing the score to 45-30. The remainder of the game the Tigers were not able to get within 12 points as ESU claimed a win at home 58-44. 

The Hornet’s fell to Nebraska Kearney on Feb. 15. 87-75 on the road. They play again in Wichita, Kan. at 3:30 p.m. against the Newman Jets.