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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582424422591.jpeg" alt="FHSU's Aaron Nicholson. Photo by Allie Schweizer courtesy <a href="http://fhsuathletics.com">fhsuathletics.com</a>" />
 <figcaption>FHSU's Aaron Nicholson. Photo by Allie Schweizer courtesy <a href="http://fhsuathletics.com">fhsuathletics.com</a></figcaption>
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HAYS -- Fort Hays State Men's Basketball improved its chances at a berth in the MIAA Tournament with an 87-80 comeback win over Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon&nbsp; at Gross Memorial Coliseum. A 19-0 second half run by the Tigers ultimately shifted the tide of the game in their favor as they held on down the stretch for a much-needed conference victory. FHSU is now 13-13 overall and 6-11 in the MIAA, while NSU moved to 17-10 overall and 10-8 in the MIAA.The Tigers fought a big uphill battle in the first half, falling down by 16 with 7:47 remaining before halftime. However, the Tigers began to chip away at the big RiverHawk lead, cutting the deficit down to five before a 3-point field goal at the halftime horn pushed the margin back to eight, 41-33.Down 48-40 with 15:30 remaining in the game, the Tigers started their tremendous second-half run.&nbsp;<a href="http://fhsuathletics.com/services/go.ashx/c1cc4920-f11a-4b09-9da3-b72abb549d1d?elinkdata=146907" target="_blank">Jared Vitztum</a>&nbsp;triggered the run with an old-fashioned 3-point play to get the lead down to five. The Tigers picked up stops on the next two NSU possessions and countered with a pair of free throws from&nbsp;<a href="http://fhsuathletics.com/services/go.ashx/054132c3-b94a-4d52-847b-d9255c319404?elinkdata=146907" target="_blank">Nyjee Wright</a>, and then a game-tying 3-point field goal by&nbsp;<a href="http://fhsuathletics.com/services/go.ashx/2243a830-d5ee-4f36-ab50-76a5f0026557?elinkdata=146907" target="_blank">Jake Hutchings</a>&nbsp;at 14:05 remaining.The Tigers continued to push, getting another stop on the defensive end and then&nbsp;<a href="http://fhsuathletics.com/services/go.ashx/46f53177-ae6e-463f-890a-ae56c110a33c?elinkdata=146907" target="_blank">Devin Davis</a>&nbsp;countered with an old-fashioned 3-point play. FHSU led 51-48, its first lead since a pair of one-point margins at 7-6 and 9-8 in the first half. Two more misses by the RiverHawks led to back-to-back 3-point field goals, both by Vitztum to extend the lead to nine.&nbsp;<a href="http://fhsuathletics.com/services/go.ashx/8e99d3b5-7a2a-45f4-99d6-376bc74f2075?elinkdata=146907" target="_blank">Jake Hutchings</a>&nbsp;finally capped the run with a layup at the 10:21 mark. In just over five minutes time, the Tigers went on a 19-0 run to make an eight-point deficit an 11-point lead. FHSU held NSU to 0-of-5 shooting in the run, while forcing two turnovers. FHSU shot 6-of-7 from the field in the run, including 3-of-4 beyond the 3-point line.Northeastern State shortly stopped the bleeding with a field goal at the 10:43 mark, but FHSU kept pulling further ahead. A 14-6 run pushed the Tiger advantage to 17 with 5:21 to play, but the RiverHawks tried their best to climb back in the game. Somewhat shaky free-throw shooting down the stretch by FHSU led NSU continue to chip away, cutting the lead all the way down to five with three seconds remaining before a pair of free throws from Wright pushed the final margin back to seven.Vitztum topped his career high in points set a week ago at Lincoln, going one better with 25. Hutchings added 18,&nbsp;<a href="http://fhsuathletics.com/services/go.ashx/36714e99-5d59-49da-bfd6-e1ec0748166b?elinkdata=146907" target="_blank">Perry Carroll</a>&nbsp;had 13 off the bench, and Davis and Wright had 11. All of Wright's 11 points were on free throws. FHSU shot 50 percent as a team for the game, including a scorching 60 percent after halftime. The Tigers hit 21-of-32 free-throw attempts.Caleb Smith led the RiverHawks with 26 points, followed by Kendrick Thompson with 16.The Tigers remain in a tie for ninth in the MIAA standings, now with Central Oklahoma both at 6-11. Central Missouri and Pittsburg State are both one game back at 5-12. Fort Hays State's game on Thursday at Central Oklahoma will be critical in trying to lock up a spot in Kansas City for the MIAA Tournament.

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Tiger men race past RiverHawks with big 2nd half run