KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball was listed among the receiving votes section of the latest NABC Top 25 Poll, released on Tuesday. Despite seeing their five-game win streak snapped this past Saturday at Missouri Western, another team receiving votes in the poll, the Tigers received four votes toward the poll this week.

Fort Hays State currently sits at 9-4 overall for the season and 2-2 in MIAA play. The Tigers jumped into the receiving votes section of the poll in the previous release back on December 31 following a win over nationally ranked MSU Denver, which still holds a national ranking this week.

Washburn remains strong as the MIAA's only Top 25 ranked team, still undefeated this season at 13-0. The Ichabods held steady at the No. 2 ranking in the NABC Poll, only behind 2023-24 national runner-up Nova Southeastern, which also remains unbeaten on the season and retained the No. 1 spot in the poll once again. Fort Hays State and Missouri Western are the only other two schools referenced in the poll among the receiving votes section. FHSU received four votes toward the poll and MWSU received one.

Fort Hays State will play just one game this week since Tuesday's contest with Nebraska-Kearney has been postponed to February 26 due to the lingering poor travel conditions in Kansas from the winter storm over the weekend. The Tigers host Emporia State on Thursday (Jan. 9) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736334620638.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsKANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball was listed among the receiving votes section of the latest NABC Top 25 Poll, released on Tuesday. Despite seeing their five-game win streak snapped this past Saturday at Missouri Western, another team receiving votes in the poll, the Tigers received four votes toward the poll this week.Fort Hays State currently sits at 9-4 overall for the season and 2-2 in MIAA play. The Tigers jumped into the receiving votes section of the poll in the previous release back on December 31 following a win over nationally ranked MSU Denver, which still holds a national ranking this week.Washburn remains strong as the MIAA's only Top 25 ranked team, still undefeated this season at 13-0. The Ichabods held steady at the No. 2 ranking in the NABC Poll, only behind 2023-24 national runner-up Nova Southeastern, which also remains unbeaten on the season and retained the No. 1 spot in the poll once again. Fort Hays State and Missouri Western are the only other two schools referenced in the poll among the receiving votes section. FHSU received four votes toward the poll and MWSU received one.Fort Hays State will play just one game this week since Tuesday's contest with Nebraska-Kearney has been postponed to February 26 due to the lingering poor travel conditions in Kansas from the winter storm over the weekend. The Tigers host Emporia State on Thursday (Jan. 9) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Tiger men continue to receive votes in NABC poll

After suffering its first loss of the season, the Fort Hays State women's basketball team slid down in both national polls released Tuesday. The Tigers now rank seventh in the WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll and sit 14th in the D2CSC National Media Poll.

<a href="https://wbca.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/07-010725-d2-poll.pdf">WBCA Coaches Poll (Jan. 7)</a> <a href="https://griffinathletics.com/sports/2025/1/6/24-25-d2csc-wbb-poll-week7.aspx">D2CSC Media Poll (Jan. 7)</a>

This is the second time the Tigers have been ranked seventh in the coaches poll this season, with the last occurrence&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/news/2024/12/3/womens-basketball-tigers-up-to-seventh-in-coaches-poll-t-14th-in-media-ranks.aspx">coming on December 3</a>. Coincidentally, FHSU was also ranked 14th in the media poll that week.

The Tigers, now 12-1 on the year, moved down four spots in the coaches poll this week and dipped 10 spots in the media ranks. Fort Hays State is still the top-ranked team in both the MIAA and the Central Region, with Pittsburg State sitting in 13th this week in the coaches poll. The Gorillas did manage to leap FHSU in the media ranks, moving to 12th.This is the eighth time the Tigers have been ranked No. 7 in the DII coaches poll. FHSU is a perfect 12-0 when playing as the seventh-ranked team in the country, including a pair of blowout conference wins this season over Central Missouri and Washburn.

The Tigers have now been mentioned in the coaches poll in 111 separate weekly releases, including 72 appearances in the top 10. FHSU is 169-44 when ranked and 118-25 when ranked in the top 10.After Tuesday's contest against Nebraska-Kearney was&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/news/2025/1/6/mens-basketball-tuesdays-basketball-games-postponed-to-feb-26.aspx">postponed to February 26</a>&nbsp;due to travel concerns, the Tigers will now return to action on Thursday when they host Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736285489213.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsAfter suffering its first loss of the season, the Fort Hays State women's basketball team slid down in both national polls released Tuesday. The Tigers now rank seventh in the WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll and sit 14th in the D2CSC National Media Poll.<a href="https://wbca.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/07-010725-d2-poll.pdf">WBCA Coaches Poll (Jan. 7)</a> <a href="https://griffinathletics.com/sports/2025/1/6/24-25-d2csc-wbb-poll-week7.aspx">D2CSC Media Poll (Jan. 7)</a>This is the second time the Tigers have been ranked seventh in the coaches poll this season, with the last occurrence&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/news/2024/12/3/womens-basketball-tigers-up-to-seventh-in-coaches-poll-t-14th-in-media-ranks.aspx">coming on December 3</a>. Coincidentally, FHSU was also ranked 14th in the media poll that week.The Tigers, now 12-1 on the year, moved down four spots in the coaches poll this week and dipped 10 spots in the media ranks. Fort Hays State is still the top-ranked team in both the MIAA and the Central Region, with Pittsburg State sitting in 13th this week in the coaches poll. The Gorillas did manage to leap FHSU in the media ranks, moving to 12th.This is the eighth time the Tigers have been ranked No. 7 in the DII coaches poll. FHSU is a perfect 12-0 when playing as the seventh-ranked team in the country, including a pair of blowout conference wins this season over Central Missouri and Washburn.The Tigers have now been mentioned in the coaches poll in 111 separate weekly releases, including 72 appearances in the top 10. FHSU is 169-44 when ranked and 118-25 when ranked in the top 10.After Tuesday's contest against Nebraska-Kearney was&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/news/2025/1/6/mens-basketball-tuesdays-basketball-games-postponed-to-feb-26.aspx">postponed to February 26</a>&nbsp;due to travel concerns, the Tigers will now return to action on Thursday when they host Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Tiger women drop to seventh in coaches poll; 14th in media rankings

The Kansas Basketball Coaches Association has released their first regular season rankings for 2025.

Despite a road win over state-ranked Manhattan before the Christmas break, the Hays High girls' drop two spots to No. 7 in Class 5A. Manhattan jumps two to No. 8 in Class 6A.

The Hoxie girls are ranked 7th in class 2A.

The Logan-Palco boys are ranked third and Otis-Bison ninth in 1A Division 2.

6A Girls 1. Blue Valley North 2. Wichita Heights 3. Washburn Rural 4. Derby 5. Olathe South 6. Shawnee Mission South 7. Shawnee Mission Northwest| 8. Manhattan 9. Blue Valley NW 10. Olathe North

5A Girls 1. Topeka Seaman 2. Andover 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 4. St. James&nbsp;Academy 5. DeSoto 6. Kansas City Piper 7. Hays 8. Bishop Carroll 8. Blue Valley SW 10. Maize South

4A Girls 1. Wellington 2. Bishop Miege 3. Topeka Hayden 4. Eudora 5. Clay Center 6. Labette County 7. Fort Scott 8. Baldwin 9. Buhler 10. Rock Creek

3A Girls 1. Hesston 2. Halstead 3. Haven 4. Colby 5. Silver Lake 6. Girard 7. Goodland 8. Osage City 9. Holcomb 10. Cheney

2A Girls&nbsp; 1. St. Mary’s Colgan&nbsp; 2. Eureka&nbsp; Hillsboro &nbsp; 3. Moundridge 4. Wichita County&nbsp; 5. Inman 6. Ellinwood 7. Hoxie&nbsp; 8.&nbsp; Berean Academy&nbsp; 9. Doniphan West&nbsp; 10. Hillsboro

1A Div. 1 Girls 1. Little River&nbsp; 2. Centralia&nbsp; 3. South Gray &nbsp; 4. Clifton Clyde&nbsp; 5. St. John - Hudson&nbsp; 6. Rawlins County&nbsp; 7. Central Plains&nbsp; 8. Madison-Hamilton&nbsp; 9. Troy 10. Olpe&nbsp;

1A Div. 2 Girls 1. Hanover 2. Wallace County 3. South Haven 4. Lebo 5. Marias des Cygnes 6. Hodgeman County 7. Hartford 8. Cheylin 9. Attica 10. Ingalls&nbsp;

6A Boys 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 2. Wichita Heights 3. Wichita Northwest 4. Olathe North 5.&nbsp; Shawnee Mission South 6. Mill Valley 7. Junction City 8. Blue Valley North 9. Derby 10. Blue Valley Northwest

5A Boys 1. Highland Park 2. Andover Central 3. Kansas City -Piper 4. Shawnee Heights 5. Kapaun Mt. Carmel 6.&nbsp; Valley Center 7. Topeka Seaman 8. St. Thomas Aquinas 9. Topeka West 10. Great Bend

4A Boys 1. Baldwin 2. Ottawa 3. McPherson 4. Rock Creek 5. Concordia 6. Atchison 7. Augusta 8. Abilene 9. Clay Center 10. Bishop Miege

3A Boys 1. Wichita Collegiate 2. Goodland 3. Hesston 4. Cheney 5. Haven 6. Lakin 7. Scott City 8. Wellsville 9. Burlington&nbsp; 10.&nbsp;Holcomb

2A Boys 1. Moundridge 2. Sterling 3. Ell-Saline 4. Salina-Sacred Heart 5. Rossville 6. Whitewater-Remington 7. Bennington 8. Pitt-Colgan 9. Berean Academy 10. Medicine Lodge

1A Div. 1 Boys 1. South Central 2. South Gray 3. Lawrence-Bishop Seabury 4. Oxford 5. Central Plains 6. Olpe 7. Macksville 8. Central Burden 9. Frankfort 10. Clifton-Clyde

1A Div. 2 Boys 1. Cunningham 2. Axtell 3. Logan-Palco 4. Elyria Christian 5. Weskan 6. Hodgeman Co 7. Hanover 8. Dighton 9. Otis-Bison 10. St. John’s Tipton

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712064660369.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostThe Kansas Basketball Coaches Association has released their first regular season rankings for 2025.Despite a road win over state-ranked Manhattan before the Christmas break, the Hays High girls' drop two spots to No. 7 in Class 5A. Manhattan jumps two to No. 8 in Class 6A.The Hoxie girls are ranked 7th in class 2A.The Logan-Palco boys are ranked third and Otis-Bison ninth in 1A Division 2.6A Girls 1. Blue Valley North 2. Wichita Heights 3. Washburn Rural 4. Derby 5. Olathe South 6. Shawnee Mission South 7. Shawnee Mission Northwest| 8. Manhattan 9. Blue Valley NW 10. Olathe North5A Girls 1. Topeka Seaman 2. Andover 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 4. St. James&nbsp;Academy 5. DeSoto 6. Kansas City Piper 7. Hays 8. Bishop Carroll 8. Blue Valley SW 10. Maize South4A Girls 1. Wellington 2. Bishop Miege 3. Topeka Hayden 4. Eudora 5. Clay Center 6. Labette County 7. Fort Scott 8. Baldwin 9. Buhler 10. Rock Creek3A Girls 1. Hesston 2. Halstead 3. Haven 4. Colby 5. Silver Lake 6. Girard 7. Goodland 8. Osage City 9. Holcomb 10. Cheney2A Girls&nbsp; 1. St. Mary’s Colgan&nbsp; 2. Eureka&nbsp; Hillsboro &nbsp; 3. Moundridge 4. Wichita County&nbsp; 5. Inman 6. Ellinwood 7. Hoxie&nbsp; 8.&nbsp; Berean Academy&nbsp; 9. Doniphan West&nbsp; 10. Hillsboro1A Div. 1 Girls 1. Little River&nbsp; 2. Centralia&nbsp; 3. South Gray &nbsp; 4. Clifton Clyde&nbsp; 5. St. John - Hudson&nbsp; 6. Rawlins County&nbsp; 7. Central Plains&nbsp; 8. Madison-Hamilton&nbsp; 9. Troy 10. Olpe&nbsp;1A Div. 2 Girls 1. Hanover 2. Wallace County 3. South Haven 4. Lebo 5. Marias des Cygnes 6. Hodgeman County 7. Hartford 8. Cheylin 9. Attica 10. Ingalls&nbsp;6A Boys 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 2. Wichita Heights 3. Wichita Northwest 4. Olathe North 5.&nbsp; Shawnee Mission South 6. Mill Valley 7. Junction City 8. Blue Valley North 9. Derby 10. Blue Valley Northwest5A Boys 1. Highland Park 2. Andover Central 3. Kansas City -Piper 4. Shawnee Heights 5. Kapaun Mt. Carmel 6.&nbsp; Valley Center 7. Topeka Seaman 8. St. Thomas Aquinas 9. Topeka West 10. Great Bend4A Boys 1. Baldwin 2. Ottawa 3. McPherson 4. Rock Creek 5. Concordia 6. Atchison 7. Augusta 8. Abilene 9. Clay Center 10. Bishop Miege3A Boys 1. Wichita Collegiate 2. Goodland 3. Hesston 4. Cheney 5. Haven 6. Lakin 7. Scott City 8. Wellsville 9. Burlington&nbsp; 10.&nbsp;Holcomb2A Boys 1. Moundridge 2. Sterling 3. Ell-Saline 4. Salina-Sacred Heart 5. Rossville 6. Whitewater-Remington 7. Bennington 8. Pitt-Colgan 9. Berean Academy 10. Medicine Lodge1A Div. 1 Boys 1. South Central 2. South Gray 3. Lawrence-Bishop Seabury 4. Oxford 5. Central Plains 6. Olpe 7. Macksville 8. Central Burden 9. Frankfort 10. Clifton-Clyde1A Div. 2 Boys 1. Cunningham 2. Axtell 3. Logan-Palco 4. Elyria Christian 5. Weskan 6. Hodgeman Co 7. Hanover 8. Dighton 9. Otis-Bison 10. St. John’s Tipton

🏀 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association rankings (Jan. 7)

INDIANAPOLIS – Fort Hays State was one of 22 institutions from NCAA Division II selected as a finalist for the 2025 Division II Award of Excellence, an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership. Four finalists were picked as at-large honorees for submitting a strong nomination not chosen as the finalist for their conference.

Fort Hays State was chosen for the Tigers for IDD Sports and Fitness Night. Fort Hays State student-athletes hosted the events for local Special Olympic athletes through a campus partnership with a Physical Activity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities class. Over 200 student-athletes, along with students from the class, provided instruction to over 60 Special Olympic athletes. The event aimed to foster inclusion and demonstrate the importance of movement and physical activity. Fort Hays State hosted an event for this in both the spring and fall of 2024.

Division II honors its members each year for conducting events that promote student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders within their communities or on their campuses. A committee of athletics administrators determined this year's finalists, and the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee selected the top three finalists, who will be announced at the Division II business session on Jan. 17 at the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Each finalist will receive $750. In addition, the winner will receive $3,000, the first runner-up will receive $1,750 and the second runner-up will receive $1,500. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.

Below is the list of finalists for the award.

Academy of Art (Pacific West Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;ART U Hoops With the Troops:&nbsp;Now in its fourth year, ART U Hoops With the Troops is a basketball clinic hosted by the Academy of Art men's and women's basketball teams in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and Marines during San Francisco Fleet Week, which celebrates America's sea services. The event, held on the USS Tripoli, involved over 160 inner-city youth and included a tour of the ship. The clinic exposed youth to the collegiate student-athlete experience, military life, basketball fundamentals and new career possibilities.

Alabama Huntsville (Gulf South Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Sleep in Heavenly Peace:&nbsp;On a day off during the season, Alabama Huntsville men's and women's basketball teams partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and local volunteers to build beds for local children in need. This was the second consecutive year the teams partnered with the organizations. Participants built a total of 33 beds, surpassing last year's total of 25.

American International (Northeast-10 Conference) - Home Run for the Hungry Campaign:&nbsp;The American International baseball team's annual Home Run for the Hungry campaign collected 4,000 pounds of food and $500 worth of diapers for a local pantry and Square One, which provides a range of family-friendly education and support services. Over seven years, the campaign has donated 15,900 pounds of food, making a significant impact on the greater Springfield, Massachusetts, area.

Arkansas-Monticello (Great American Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;SAAC Make-A-Wish text-a-thon:&nbsp; Arkansas-Monticello's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee partnered with Make-A-Wish Mid-South to raise $10,000 through a text-a-thon. Student-athletes sent texts to their contacts asking for $10 donations, and within 10 days, they surpassed their goal of $10,000. The funds will be used to grant a wish for a local child, with the wish day planned for February at a basketball game.

Augusta University (Peach Belt Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Education Day Games:&nbsp;Augusta University student-athletes hosted more than 4,500 fifth graders from the community for annual Education Day Games focused on community, learning and collegiate experiences. The events also included financial literacy education and interactive experiences. The goal was to expose students to college life and introduce them to life as student-athletes.

Caldwell (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Tunnel to Towers:&nbsp;The Caldwell Student-Athlete Advisory Committee presented a check for $1,525 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation during the annual Super Saturday Basketball Event. The funds were raised through a charity volleyball game involving 38 student-athletes who took on various roles such as players, announcers and officials. The event, attended by around 165 people, included food donations from local restaurants and faculty, with meal tickets sold to raise additional funds. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families and builds specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association&nbsp;-&nbsp;Student-Athlete Empowerment Program:&nbsp;The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Student-Athlete Empowerment Program is focused on developing student-athletes as leaders. Launched during the 2024 CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament in Baltimore, the program includes sessions on personal branding, financial fitness, career exploration and leading with impact. It was facilitated by representatives from the NCAA office of inclusion, U.S. Army, Wells Fargo, FBI and Wendy's. The program also featured community engagement activities, such as distributing shoes to those in need. It continued with the CIAA SAAC Summer Summit, which included workshops, panels and discussions on leadership, career readiness, mental health awareness and civic engagement.

Conference Carolinas&nbsp;-&nbsp;Leading the Way — Champions in Body, Mind, and Soul — SAAC Retreat:&nbsp;Conference Carolinas held its annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee retreat in Greeneville, South Carolina. It included a visit to the Boys &amp; Girls Club, a special dinner event that honored community impacts of campus SAACs, and leadership training sessions. The retreat aimed to develop student-athletes as leaders and included presentations on professional communication, networking and handling interviews. The event also inspired student-athletes to create events on their campuses to help Hurricane Helene victims and organize additional canned food drives.

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference&nbsp;-&nbsp;Play4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness Event:&nbsp;The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference hosted the Play4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness event across all campuses, uniting athletes, staff, students and community members to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer. Named in honor of the late basketball coach Kay Yow, this event celebrated resilience, community support and empowerment for those affected by breast cancer. Each campus held special activities and ceremonies, allowing fans and participants to engage in meaningful ways, from wearing pink gear to participating in halftime recognition ceremonies. The theme "United for a Cure" was central to each campus' approach, creating a visually unified atmosphere with pink decor, custom jerseys and commemorative banners. The event raised significant funds for breast cancer research and awareness initiatives through ticket proceeds, donations and merchandise sales.

Florida Southern (Sunshine State Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Light &amp; Life Park Relief:&nbsp;Florida Southern helped the Light &amp; Life Park senior community recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton. The athletics department logged 792 community engagement hours, assisting with cleanup, debris removal and repairs.

Fort Hays State (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)&nbsp;- Tigers for IDD Sports and Fitness Night:&nbsp;Fort Hays State student-athletes hosted an event for local Special Olympic athletes through a campus partnership with a Physical Activity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities class. Over 200 student-athletes, along with students from the class, provided instruction to over 60 Special Olympic athletes. The event aimed to foster inclusion and demonstrate the importance of movement and physical activity.

Gannon (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;PALS Camp:&nbsp;Gannon hosted its PALS Camp in collaboration with the Erie Police Athletic League, providing a chance for underserved youth to build connections with police officers through sports. The camp hosted more than 300 children and included various sporting events, social interactions and educational sessions. The camp aimed to reduce crime, promote positive character development and improve educational outcomes for children.

Mars Hill (South Atlantic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Hurricane Helene relief:&nbsp;Mars Hill student-athletes played a vital role in helping their campus and surrounding communities with relief efforts after Hurricane Helene. They provided over 200 combined hours of community engagement, including preparing meals, cleaning up from the storm and organizing supplies.

Missouri Southern State (At-large selection) - Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat:&nbsp;The Missouri Southern State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted its annual Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat campaign in October, collecting a record 8,618 nonperishable items for Soul's Harbor, a human services and homeless shelter. Student-athletes spent over 200 hours distributing flyers and collecting donations. The donations helped keep the pantry stocked well into the spring.

Molloy (At-large selection)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk:&nbsp; Molloy partnered with the Molloy Student Counseling Center and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to hold the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk. Over 100 student-athletes and dozens of other students and staff participated, raising $1,120 to support suicide prevention efforts. The event included resources and giveaways provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Montana State Billings (Great Northwest Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Game:&nbsp;The Montana State Billings men's and women's basketball teams partnered with the MSU Billings Native American Achievement Center to hold their first-ever Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Game. The event aimed to raise awareness and educate the community about the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Montana. The game included a halftime ceremony where participants walked silently carrying photos and mementos of those they wished to honor, and a performance by Native American artist Shakira Glenn. The event promoted community engagement and student-athlete development, fostering a deeper connection between the athletic department and the Native American Achievement Center.

Northwest Nazarene (At-large selection)&nbsp;- All-Abilities Clinics:&nbsp;Northwest Nazarene student-athletes hosted two all-abilities clinics, which served as both a community outreach and an at-home mission trip. Volunteers received education and training on interacting with individuals with intellectual disabilities and on adapted sports. The clinics featured various sports stations, including flag football, cornhole, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and a speed and agility course. Over 120 volunteers participated, assisting athletes throughout the day and ensuring a positive and inclusive environment. The event also included a breakout session for parents and families, where they discussed the challenges and joys of raising children with intellectual disabilities. The clinics aimed to foster inclusion, promote physical activity and provide valuable experience for student-athletes.

Oklahoma Baptist (At-large selection)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children:&nbsp;Oklahoma Baptist student-athletes worked with the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children to create relationships with the kids and raise money to renovate living spaces for single moms and their children. Over the summer, the athletics department donated over $3,000 to the organization and hosted a camp attended by 83 children that exposed them to various sports.

Roberts Wesleyan (East Coast Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Pirate Toy Fund:&nbsp;Roberts Wesleyan continued its support of the Pirate Toy Fund, which distributes toys year-round to children in need. Student-athletes contributed more than 300 community engagement hours at distribution events, toy drives and fundraising efforts like benefit games. Their collective efforts included setting up a new warehouse, sorting toys and raising awareness through social media campaigns. The Redhawks' contributions saved the Pirate Toy Fund over $12,000 in billable hours. They collected thousands of toys.

Rockhurst (Great Lakes Valley Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Mental health initiative:&nbsp;Rockhurst student-athletes, led by its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, launched a yearlong mental health awareness initiative that aimed to spread awareness about mental health stigmas and guide people toward resources. Each team had a mental health awareness game where players wore green accessories, the color of mental health awareness. The initiative included starting a chapter of Morgan's Message, which seeks to eliminate mental health stigma in athletics; forming partnerships with the counseling center, sports medicine and athletic performance departments; and creating educational sessions, a social media campaign and a mental health library in the weight room.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference - Crossover for Change:&nbsp;A group of Colorado School of Mines student-athletes raised money for Crossover for Change, whose mission is fostering confidence, empowerment and leadership for young women in Uganda through the sport of basketball. The student-athletes hosted local basketball camps and 5K races to contribute to the organization's efforts to build basketball courts, hold sports camps and conduct virtual sessions on confidence, nutrition and career goals.

San Francisco State (California Collegiate Athletic Association)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Building Connections:&nbsp;The San Francisco State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's primary goal focused on expanding community engagement efforts across athletics teams to support local groups and communities. The results included each athletics team contributing to the community through various events, charities and community engagement activities. These included youth sports clinics, charity walks for those with intellectual and development disabilities, food distribution for homeless shelters and trash cleanup on a beach.&nbsp;

Southwest Minnesota State (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Game Day Roundup:&nbsp;For the second year, Southwest Minnesota State has hosted Game Day Roundup, a community-focused pregame football event that includes inflatables for kids, food trucks, a live DJ, vendor tents and tailgating. It has enhanced relationships with local businesses and the community, creating an atmosphere that encourages Mustangs of all ages to be on campus for home football Saturdays.

Texas Woman's University (Lone Star Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Be the Match:&nbsp;Texas Woman's University student-athletes hosted a campuswide community engagement event in partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program, formerly known as Be the Match. The event aimed to register individuals as potential donors for patients with blood cancers and disorders. With the encouragement of Texas Woman's University student-athletes, 217 individuals registered, far surpassing the baseline goal of 100 registrants. The event included personal stories of experiences with transplants, inspiring participants and highlighting the impact of their contributions.

Walsh (Great Midwest Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;The Cavalier Commitment:&nbsp;Walsh student-athletes launched "The Cavalier Commitment" to appreciate and support sports officials. The initiative focused on creating a culture of appreciation, educating the community about officiating and forming partnerships with local high schools and the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Activities included writing thank you cards to officials, hosting educational sessions with officials like longtime NFL and NCAA official Gene Steratore, and promoting officiating through social media and community events.

West Virginia State (Mountain East Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament:&nbsp;West Virginia State has been leading community engagement through the Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament the past three years. The tournament promotes intergenerational interaction and active lifestyles, reinforcing West Virginia State's commitment to community involvement and athletic accessibility. The event, which was revived by the athletics department after being paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, attracted 245 participants across 30 events, with competitors ranging in age from 12 to 83.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736335578442.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsINDIANAPOLIS – Fort Hays State was one of 22 institutions from NCAA Division II selected as a finalist for the 2025 Division II Award of Excellence, an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership. Four finalists were picked as at-large honorees for submitting a strong nomination not chosen as the finalist for their conference.Fort Hays State was chosen for the Tigers for IDD Sports and Fitness Night. Fort Hays State student-athletes hosted the events for local Special Olympic athletes through a campus partnership with a Physical Activity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities class. Over 200 student-athletes, along with students from the class, provided instruction to over 60 Special Olympic athletes. The event aimed to foster inclusion and demonstrate the importance of movement and physical activity. Fort Hays State hosted an event for this in both the spring and fall of 2024.Division II honors its members each year for conducting events that promote student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders within their communities or on their campuses. A committee of athletics administrators determined this year's finalists, and the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee selected the top three finalists, who will be announced at the Division II business session on Jan. 17 at the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.Each finalist will receive $750. In addition, the winner will receive $3,000, the first runner-up will receive $1,750 and the second runner-up will receive $1,500. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.Below is the list of finalists for the award.Academy of Art (Pacific West Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;ART U Hoops With the Troops:&nbsp;Now in its fourth year, ART U Hoops With the Troops is a basketball clinic hosted by the Academy of Art men's and women's basketball teams in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and Marines during San Francisco Fleet Week, which celebrates America's sea services. The event, held on the USS Tripoli, involved over 160 inner-city youth and included a tour of the ship. The clinic exposed youth to the collegiate student-athlete experience, military life, basketball fundamentals and new career possibilities.Alabama Huntsville (Gulf South Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Sleep in Heavenly Peace:&nbsp;On a day off during the season, Alabama Huntsville men's and women's basketball teams partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and local volunteers to build beds for local children in need. This was the second consecutive year the teams partnered with the organizations. Participants built a total of 33 beds, surpassing last year's total of 25.American International (Northeast-10 Conference) - Home Run for the Hungry Campaign:&nbsp;The American International baseball team's annual Home Run for the Hungry campaign collected 4,000 pounds of food and $500 worth of diapers for a local pantry and Square One, which provides a range of family-friendly education and support services. Over seven years, the campaign has donated 15,900 pounds of food, making a significant impact on the greater Springfield, Massachusetts, area.Arkansas-Monticello (Great American Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;SAAC Make-A-Wish text-a-thon:&nbsp; Arkansas-Monticello's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee partnered with Make-A-Wish Mid-South to raise $10,000 through a text-a-thon. Student-athletes sent texts to their contacts asking for $10 donations, and within 10 days, they surpassed their goal of $10,000. The funds will be used to grant a wish for a local child, with the wish day planned for February at a basketball game.Augusta University (Peach Belt Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Education Day Games:&nbsp;Augusta University student-athletes hosted more than 4,500 fifth graders from the community for annual Education Day Games focused on community, learning and collegiate experiences. The events also included financial literacy education and interactive experiences. The goal was to expose students to college life and introduce them to life as student-athletes.Caldwell (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Tunnel to Towers:&nbsp;The Caldwell Student-Athlete Advisory Committee presented a check for $1,525 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation during the annual Super Saturday Basketball Event. The funds were raised through a charity volleyball game involving 38 student-athletes who took on various roles such as players, announcers and officials. The event, attended by around 165 people, included food donations from local restaurants and faculty, with meal tickets sold to raise additional funds. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families and builds specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association&nbsp;-&nbsp;Student-Athlete Empowerment Program:&nbsp;The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Student-Athlete Empowerment Program is focused on developing student-athletes as leaders. Launched during the 2024 CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament in Baltimore, the program includes sessions on personal branding, financial fitness, career exploration and leading with impact. It was facilitated by representatives from the NCAA office of inclusion, U.S. Army, Wells Fargo, FBI and Wendy's. The program also featured community engagement activities, such as distributing shoes to those in need. It continued with the CIAA SAAC Summer Summit, which included workshops, panels and discussions on leadership, career readiness, mental health awareness and civic engagement.Conference Carolinas&nbsp;-&nbsp;Leading the Way — Champions in Body, Mind, and Soul — SAAC Retreat:&nbsp;Conference Carolinas held its annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee retreat in Greeneville, South Carolina. It included a visit to the Boys &amp; Girls Club, a special dinner event that honored community impacts of campus SAACs, and leadership training sessions. The retreat aimed to develop student-athletes as leaders and included presentations on professional communication, networking and handling interviews. The event also inspired student-athletes to create events on their campuses to help Hurricane Helene victims and organize additional canned food drives.Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference&nbsp;-&nbsp;Play4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness Event:&nbsp;The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference hosted the Play4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness event across all campuses, uniting athletes, staff, students and community members to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer. Named in honor of the late basketball coach Kay Yow, this event celebrated resilience, community support and empowerment for those affected by breast cancer. Each campus held special activities and ceremonies, allowing fans and participants to engage in meaningful ways, from wearing pink gear to participating in halftime recognition ceremonies. The theme "United for a Cure" was central to each campus' approach, creating a visually unified atmosphere with pink decor, custom jerseys and commemorative banners. The event raised significant funds for breast cancer research and awareness initiatives through ticket proceeds, donations and merchandise sales.Florida Southern (Sunshine State Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Light &amp; Life Park Relief:&nbsp;Florida Southern helped the Light &amp; Life Park senior community recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton. The athletics department logged 792 community engagement hours, assisting with cleanup, debris removal and repairs.Fort Hays State (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)&nbsp;- Tigers for IDD Sports and Fitness Night:&nbsp;Fort Hays State student-athletes hosted an event for local Special Olympic athletes through a campus partnership with a Physical Activity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities class. Over 200 student-athletes, along with students from the class, provided instruction to over 60 Special Olympic athletes. The event aimed to foster inclusion and demonstrate the importance of movement and physical activity.Gannon (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;PALS Camp:&nbsp;Gannon hosted its PALS Camp in collaboration with the Erie Police Athletic League, providing a chance for underserved youth to build connections with police officers through sports. The camp hosted more than 300 children and included various sporting events, social interactions and educational sessions. The camp aimed to reduce crime, promote positive character development and improve educational outcomes for children.Mars Hill (South Atlantic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Hurricane Helene relief:&nbsp;Mars Hill student-athletes played a vital role in helping their campus and surrounding communities with relief efforts after Hurricane Helene. They provided over 200 combined hours of community engagement, including preparing meals, cleaning up from the storm and organizing supplies.Missouri Southern State (At-large selection) - Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat:&nbsp;The Missouri Southern State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted its annual Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat campaign in October, collecting a record 8,618 nonperishable items for Soul's Harbor, a human services and homeless shelter. Student-athletes spent over 200 hours distributing flyers and collecting donations. The donations helped keep the pantry stocked well into the spring.Molloy (At-large selection)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk:&nbsp; Molloy partnered with the Molloy Student Counseling Center and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to hold the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk. Over 100 student-athletes and dozens of other students and staff participated, raising $1,120 to support suicide prevention efforts. The event included resources and giveaways provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.Montana State Billings (Great Northwest Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Game:&nbsp;The Montana State Billings men's and women's basketball teams partnered with the MSU Billings Native American Achievement Center to hold their first-ever Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Game. The event aimed to raise awareness and educate the community about the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Montana. The game included a halftime ceremony where participants walked silently carrying photos and mementos of those they wished to honor, and a performance by Native American artist Shakira Glenn. The event promoted community engagement and student-athlete development, fostering a deeper connection between the athletic department and the Native American Achievement Center.Northwest Nazarene (At-large selection)&nbsp;- All-Abilities Clinics:&nbsp;Northwest Nazarene student-athletes hosted two all-abilities clinics, which served as both a community outreach and an at-home mission trip. Volunteers received education and training on interacting with individuals with intellectual disabilities and on adapted sports. The clinics featured various sports stations, including flag football, cornhole, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and a speed and agility course. Over 120 volunteers participated, assisting athletes throughout the day and ensuring a positive and inclusive environment. The event also included a breakout session for parents and families, where they discussed the challenges and joys of raising children with intellectual disabilities. The clinics aimed to foster inclusion, promote physical activity and provide valuable experience for student-athletes.Oklahoma Baptist (At-large selection)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children:&nbsp;Oklahoma Baptist student-athletes worked with the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children to create relationships with the kids and raise money to renovate living spaces for single moms and their children. Over the summer, the athletics department donated over $3,000 to the organization and hosted a camp attended by 83 children that exposed them to various sports.Roberts Wesleyan (East Coast Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Pirate Toy Fund:&nbsp;Roberts Wesleyan continued its support of the Pirate Toy Fund, which distributes toys year-round to children in need. Student-athletes contributed more than 300 community engagement hours at distribution events, toy drives and fundraising efforts like benefit games. Their collective efforts included setting up a new warehouse, sorting toys and raising awareness through social media campaigns. The Redhawks' contributions saved the Pirate Toy Fund over $12,000 in billable hours. They collected thousands of toys.Rockhurst (Great Lakes Valley Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Mental health initiative:&nbsp;Rockhurst student-athletes, led by its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, launched a yearlong mental health awareness initiative that aimed to spread awareness about mental health stigmas and guide people toward resources. Each team had a mental health awareness game where players wore green accessories, the color of mental health awareness. The initiative included starting a chapter of Morgan's Message, which seeks to eliminate mental health stigma in athletics; forming partnerships with the counseling center, sports medicine and athletic performance departments; and creating educational sessions, a social media campaign and a mental health library in the weight room.Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference - Crossover for Change:&nbsp;A group of Colorado School of Mines student-athletes raised money for Crossover for Change, whose mission is fostering confidence, empowerment and leadership for young women in Uganda through the sport of basketball. The student-athletes hosted local basketball camps and 5K races to contribute to the organization's efforts to build basketball courts, hold sports camps and conduct virtual sessions on confidence, nutrition and career goals.San Francisco State (California Collegiate Athletic Association)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Building Connections:&nbsp;The San Francisco State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's primary goal focused on expanding community engagement efforts across athletics teams to support local groups and communities. The results included each athletics team contributing to the community through various events, charities and community engagement activities. These included youth sports clinics, charity walks for those with intellectual and development disabilities, food distribution for homeless shelters and trash cleanup on a beach.&nbsp;Southwest Minnesota State (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Game Day Roundup:&nbsp;For the second year, Southwest Minnesota State has hosted Game Day Roundup, a community-focused pregame football event that includes inflatables for kids, food trucks, a live DJ, vendor tents and tailgating. It has enhanced relationships with local businesses and the community, creating an atmosphere that encourages Mustangs of all ages to be on campus for home football Saturdays.Texas Woman's University (Lone Star Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Be the Match:&nbsp;Texas Woman's University student-athletes hosted a campuswide community engagement event in partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program, formerly known as Be the Match. The event aimed to register individuals as potential donors for patients with blood cancers and disorders. With the encouragement of Texas Woman's University student-athletes, 217 individuals registered, far surpassing the baseline goal of 100 registrants. The event included personal stories of experiences with transplants, inspiring participants and highlighting the impact of their contributions.Walsh (Great Midwest Athletic Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;The Cavalier Commitment:&nbsp;Walsh student-athletes launched "The Cavalier Commitment" to appreciate and support sports officials. The initiative focused on creating a culture of appreciation, educating the community about officiating and forming partnerships with local high schools and the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Activities included writing thank you cards to officials, hosting educational sessions with officials like longtime NFL and NCAA official Gene Steratore, and promoting officiating through social media and community events.West Virginia State (Mountain East Conference)&nbsp;-&nbsp;Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament:&nbsp;West Virginia State has been leading community engagement through the Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament the past three years. The tournament promotes intergenerational interaction and active lifestyles, reinforcing West Virginia State's commitment to community involvement and athletic accessibility. The event, which was revived by the athletics department after being paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, attracted 245 participants across 30 events, with competitors ranging in age from 12 to 83.

Fort Hays State finalist for NCAA Division II Award of Excellence

Wednesday, January 8
 KAYS: Tiger Talk,
12:15pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. Arizona State, 6:30pm

Thursday, January 9
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Emporia State, 5:05pm

Friday, January 10
 KKQY: Smith Center
MWBKB at Ellis, 5:15 *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Emporia, 5:40pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Salina Sacred Heart, 5:40pm

Saturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30am

Tuesday, January 7
 noneWednesday, January 8
 KAYS: Tiger Talk,
12:15pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. Arizona State, 6:30pmThursday, January 9
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Emporia State, 5:05pmFriday, January 10
 KKQY: Smith Center
MWBKB at Ellis, 5:15 *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Emporia, 5:40pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Salina Sacred Heart, 5:40pmSaturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30amSunday,
1/12 none

🎧 Eagle Radio, Hull sports broadcast schedule

The Fort Hays State men look for their first win over NW Missouri State in Maryville since 2013 when they take on the Bearcats on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Bearcat Arena.

The Fort Hays State men look for their first win over NW Missouri State in Maryville since 2013 when they take on the Bearcats on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Bearcat Arena.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind-MBB at NW Missouri State (Jan. 2, 2025)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=9x3x8-17a030d-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind-MBB at NW Missouri State

HAYS, Kan. - The men's and women's basketball contests between Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney originally scheduled for Tuesday have been postponed to Wednesday, February 26 due to continuing travel concerns created by Winter Storm Blair.

Tip times will remain as scheduled, with the women opening the evening at 5:30 p.m. and the men to follow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets dated January 7 will still be accepted on the new game day.

The Tigers are now scheduled to return to action on Thursday when they host Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m. for the women and 7:30 p.m. for the men.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736181655719.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. - The men's and women's basketball contests between Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney originally scheduled for Tuesday have been postponed to Wednesday, February 26 due to continuing travel concerns created by Winter Storm Blair.Tip times will remain as scheduled, with the women opening the evening at 5:30 p.m. and the men to follow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets dated January 7 will still be accepted on the new game day.The Tigers are now scheduled to return to action on Thursday when they host Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m. for the women and 7:30 p.m. for the men.

🏀 Tuesday's FHSU games postponed to Feb. 26

Monday, January 6
 KAYS: Hawk Talk with
Bill Self, 6pm

Tuesday, January 7
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Nebraska-Kearney, 5:05pm
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB vs. Wichita Independent, 5:40pm
 KKQY: Quinter MWBKB at Hill City, approx. 5:45pm

Monday, January 6
 KAYS: Hawk Talk with
Bill Self, 6pm Tuesday, January 7
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Nebraska-Kearney, 5:05pm
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB vs. Wichita Independent, 5:40pm
 KKQY: Quinter MWBKB at Hill City, approx. 5:45pmWednesday, January 8
 KAYS: Tiger Talk,
12:15pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs. Arizona State, 6:30pmThursday, January 9
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Emporia State, 5:05pmFriday, January 10
 KKQY: Smith Center
MWBKB at Ellis, 5:15 *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Emporia, 5:40pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Salina Sacred Heart, 5:40pmSaturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30amSunday,
1/12 none

The 3rd-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens 2025 against Northwest Missouri State on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Bearcat Arena in Maryville,&nbsp; Mo.

The 3rd-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens 2025 against Northwest Missouri State on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Bearcat Arena in Maryville,&nbsp; Mo.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind: WBB at NW Missouri State (Jan. 2, 2024)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=2jatk-1799d67-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind-WBB at NW Missouri State

DENVER (AP) — Rookie Bo Nix set a franchise record by completing his first 18 passes and the Denver Broncos ended an eight-year playoff drought Sunday with a 38-0 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs' bevy of backups.

The Broncos (10-7) snapped a two-game skid and buried nearly a decade’s worth of futility and frustrations by returing to the postseason party for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

They'll visit Buffalo (13-4) in the wild-card round next weekend after handing the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (15-2) their first shutout since Dec. 16, 2012, at Oakland.

Having already secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and sole first-round bye in their quest for an unprecedented three-peat, Chiefs coach Andy Reid sat Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and a host of other starters.

Carson Wentz got the start at quarterback and fizzled in his first extended action since Week 18 with the Rams last season. He was 10 of 17 for 98 yards and was sacked four times by the league's best pass rush (62 sacks).

Nix threw for four touchdowns, giving him 29 for the season, second-most by a rookie in NFL history, behind only Justin Herbert's 31 in 2020.

He finished 26 of 29 for 321 yards, and his 18 consecutive completions also were the most ever by a Broncos QB. Nix hit Marvin Mims twice, Courtland Sutton (five times for 98 yards) and Devaughn Vele for scores.

Vele's TD was intended for Adam Trautman but ricocheted off cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson (twice) and Keith Taylor before&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1876031097215009092">Vele cradled the catch</a>&nbsp;just before tumbling out of the back of the end zone, giving Nix 17 consecutive completions at that point and extending Denver's lead to 21-0.

That wild conclusion capped an 18-play, 89-yard drive that lasted more than 11 minutes, keeping Wentz cooling his cleats on the sideline next to Mahomes, who was decked out in a white hoodie.

After Harrison Butker was wide left on a 51-yard field goal — his first miss in 18 tries at Empower Field at Mile High — Wil Lutz gave Denver a 24-0 halftime lead by nailing a 33-yarder with 3 seconds left.

The Broncos made it 31-0 on Mims' second TD catch late in the third quarter and Audric Estime punched it in from the 1 in the fourth quarter.

The Chiefs won't play again until Jan. 18 or 19, meaning Mahomes, who last played on Christmas Day, and other stars who sat this one out will have at least 24 days between games.

The Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season. That’s the longest playoff drought for a team after raising the Lombardi Trophy.

The Broncos' clincher came 3,255 days after Von Miller led them to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 7, 2016, and their reward as the AFC's seventh and final seed is a trip to Buffalo next weekend to face Miller in the first round of the playoffs.

The Bills were the only other team to beat Kansas City this season, 30-21 in Week 11.

The Chiefs' loss ended their six-game win streak but eliminated the prospect of them having to possibly face Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow at some point in the playoffs. The Bengals, who won their fifth consecutive game Saturday night at Pittsburgh, needed Denver to lose to have a chance to sneak into the playoffs at 9-8.

The Chiefs, who had won 17 of their previous 18 games against the Broncos, were planning on staying in Denver for the night because of a winter storm that also delayed their flight into Colorado for several hours Saturday.

Chiefs DB Chamarri Conner injured a shoulder in the first half and was ruled out at the start of the third quarter. Also sitting out for Kansas City were RB Isiah Pacheco (ribs), RT Jawaan Taylor (knee), CB Jaylen Watson (ankle), WR Mecole Hardman (knee), DE George Karlaftis, CB Trent McDuffie and DT Chris Jones (calf), among others.

The Broncos came out of the game healthy. WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey left briefly with an ankle injury in the first half but only missed a few snaps.

Chiefs: A first-round bye as they get healthy for the AFC divisional round Jan. 18-19.

Broncos: A visit next weekend to Buffalo for a wild-card game against the Bills.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736123443624.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — Rookie Bo Nix set a franchise record by completing his first 18 passes and the Denver Broncos ended an eight-year playoff drought Sunday with a 38-0 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs' bevy of backups.The Broncos (10-7) snapped a two-game skid and buried nearly a decade’s worth of futility and frustrations by returing to the postseason party for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.They'll visit Buffalo (13-4) in the wild-card round next weekend after handing the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (15-2) their first shutout since Dec. 16, 2012, at Oakland.Having already secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and sole first-round bye in their quest for an unprecedented three-peat, Chiefs coach Andy Reid sat Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and a host of other starters.Carson Wentz got the start at quarterback and fizzled in his first extended action since Week 18 with the Rams last season. He was 10 of 17 for 98 yards and was sacked four times by the league's best pass rush (62 sacks).Nix threw for four touchdowns, giving him 29 for the season, second-most by a rookie in NFL history, behind only Justin Herbert's 31 in 2020.He finished 26 of 29 for 321 yards, and his 18 consecutive completions also were the most ever by a Broncos QB. Nix hit Marvin Mims twice, Courtland Sutton (five times for 98 yards) and Devaughn Vele for scores.Vele's TD was intended for Adam Trautman but ricocheted off cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson (twice) and Keith Taylor before&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1876031097215009092">Vele cradled the catch</a>&nbsp;just before tumbling out of the back of the end zone, giving Nix 17 consecutive completions at that point and extending Denver's lead to 21-0.That wild conclusion capped an 18-play, 89-yard drive that lasted more than 11 minutes, keeping Wentz cooling his cleats on the sideline next to Mahomes, who was decked out in a white hoodie.After Harrison Butker was wide left on a 51-yard field goal — his first miss in 18 tries at Empower Field at Mile High — Wil Lutz gave Denver a 24-0 halftime lead by nailing a 33-yarder with 3 seconds left.The Broncos made it 31-0 on Mims' second TD catch late in the third quarter and Audric Estime punched it in from the 1 in the fourth quarter.The Chiefs won't play again until Jan. 18 or 19, meaning Mahomes, who last played on Christmas Day, and other stars who sat this one out will have at least 24 days between games.The Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season. That’s the longest playoff drought for a team after raising the Lombardi Trophy.The Broncos' clincher came 3,255 days after Von Miller led them to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 7, 2016, and their reward as the AFC's seventh and final seed is a trip to Buffalo next weekend to face Miller in the first round of the playoffs.The Bills were the only other team to beat Kansas City this season, 30-21 in Week 11.The Chiefs' loss ended their six-game win streak but eliminated the prospect of them having to possibly face Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow at some point in the playoffs. The Bengals, who won their fifth consecutive game Saturday night at Pittsburgh, needed Denver to lose to have a chance to sneak into the playoffs at 9-8.The Chiefs, who had won 17 of their previous 18 games against the Broncos, were planning on staying in Denver for the night because of a winter storm that also delayed their flight into Colorado for several hours Saturday.<h2>Injuries</h2>Chiefs DB Chamarri Conner injured a shoulder in the first half and was ruled out at the start of the third quarter. Also sitting out for Kansas City were RB Isiah Pacheco (ribs), RT Jawaan Taylor (knee), CB Jaylen Watson (ankle), WR Mecole Hardman (knee), DE George Karlaftis, CB Trent McDuffie and DT Chris Jones (calf), among others.The Broncos came out of the game healthy. WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey left briefly with an ankle injury in the first half but only missed a few snaps.<h2>Up next</h2>Chiefs: A first-round bye as they get healthy for the AFC divisional round Jan. 18-19.Broncos: A visit next weekend to Buffalo for a wild-card game against the Bills.___

🏈 Nix leads Broncos past Chiefs' reserves and into the playoffs

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half and No. 7 Kansas posted the second-largest margin of victory in program history Sunday, beating UCF 99-48 in a Big 12 matchup.

Dickinson, a 7-foot-2 senior center, shot 12 for 17 from the field and had nine rebounds while limiting UCF's Moustapha Thiam, a 7-2 freshman who was slowed by foul trouble, to four points.

Flory Bidunga had 12 points and five rebounds, Rylan Griffen scored 14 points and Dajuan Harris Jr. and AJ Storr each had 11 for the Jayhawks (10-3, 1-1).

Kansas went on a 23-8 run after Thiam's second foul in the first half and held UCF without a field goal for more than seven minutes. The Knights missed 11 straight shots during that run and made only three of their final 19 shots in the first half. UCF shot 20.6% in the game and was 7 for 30 from 3-point distance.

Keyshawn Hall had 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting as UCF (10-3, 1-1) suffered its worst home loss.

Kansas: Bounced back from a 62-61 loss to West Virginia in its Big 12 opener.

UCF: The Knights have plenty of length and athleticism, yet looked outclassed after an impressive win over Texas Tech in their conference opener.

UCF was down 30 midway through the second half when Kansas had some emphatic plays. Bidunga blocked a jumper and scored a runout dunk. After a steal on the next possession, Kansas got a 3-pointer from Griffen to make it a 77-38 lead with about eight minutes to play.

Kansas dominated the interior with 22 offensive rebounds and 37 second-chance points.

Both teams have Big 12 games Wednesday. Kansas hosts Arizona State and UCF welcomes Colorado.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736118300329.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half and No. 7 Kansas posted the second-largest margin of victory in program history Sunday, beating UCF 99-48 in a Big 12 matchup.Dickinson, a 7-foot-2 senior center, shot 12 for 17 from the field and had nine rebounds while limiting UCF's Moustapha Thiam, a 7-2 freshman who was slowed by foul trouble, to four points.Flory Bidunga had 12 points and five rebounds, Rylan Griffen scored 14 points and Dajuan Harris Jr. and AJ Storr each had 11 for the Jayhawks (10-3, 1-1).Kansas went on a 23-8 run after Thiam's second foul in the first half and held UCF without a field goal for more than seven minutes. The Knights missed 11 straight shots during that run and made only three of their final 19 shots in the first half. UCF shot 20.6% in the game and was 7 for 30 from 3-point distance.Keyshawn Hall had 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting as UCF (10-3, 1-1) suffered its worst home loss.<h2>Takeaways</h2>Kansas: Bounced back from a 62-61 loss to West Virginia in its Big 12 opener.UCF: The Knights have plenty of length and athleticism, yet looked outclassed after an impressive win over Texas Tech in their conference opener.<h2>Key moment</h2>UCF was down 30 midway through the second half when Kansas had some emphatic plays. Bidunga blocked a jumper and scored a runout dunk. After a steal on the next possession, Kansas got a 3-pointer from Griffen to make it a 77-38 lead with about eight minutes to play.<h2>Key stat</h2>Kansas dominated the interior with 22 offensive rebounds and 37 second-chance points.<h2>Up next</h2>Both teams have Big 12 games Wednesday. Kansas hosts Arizona State and UCF welcomes Colorado.

🏀 KU posts 2nd-largest margin of victory in program history in win over UCF

Sunday, January 5 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at UCF, 1:30pm KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, 2pm

Sunday, January 5 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at UCF, 1:30pm KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, 2pm

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Noah Reynolds scored 18 points and made the go-ahead basket during TCU's game-ending 7-0 run to defeat Kansas State 63-62 on Saturday.

<a href="https://x.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/1875681082202292581">Reynolds worked off the dribble from the left side to the right, ducked inside and hit a one-hander off the glass for the go-ahead basket with 12.8 seconds remaining.</a>

A 3-pointer from Max Jones gave the Wildcats a 62-56 lead near the 3-minute mark of the second half but the Wildcats did not score again. A tip-in by Vasean Allette and a 3 from Brendan Wenzel made it 62-61 with 1:17 left.

Coleman Hawkins missed in the paint for Kansas State, then blocked a layup at the other end. David N’Guessan rebounded, was fouled and missed the front end of the one-and-one with 24 seconds left. Reynolds then put the Horned Frogs ahead and K-State's Dug McDaniel was unable to finish a contested layup before time ran out during the battle for the rebound.

Allette and Trazarien White each scored 14 points for TCU (8-5, 1-1 Big 12) and Ernest Udeh Jr. grabbed 12 rebounds.

N’Guessan had 17 rebounds and scored 10 points for K-State (7-6, 1-1). McDaniel scored 12 points, Coleman Hawkins 11 and Brendan Hausen 10.

TCU pushed its three-point halftime lead to six points early in the second half before Kansas State took the lead at 45-43 with 11 minutes remaining. The Wildcats held the lead for close to 11 minutes before Reynolds' game-winner.

TCU improved to 8-0 at home and Kansas State's road losing streak reached 51 weeks and 11 games.

TCU will play at No. 14 Houston for the first time since 2011 on Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736032768028.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Noah Reynolds scored 18 points and made the go-ahead basket during TCU's game-ending 7-0 run to defeat Kansas State 63-62 on Saturday.<a href="https://x.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/1875681082202292581">Reynolds worked off the dribble from the left side to the right, ducked inside and hit a one-hander off the glass for the go-ahead basket with 12.8 seconds remaining.</a>A 3-pointer from Max Jones gave the Wildcats a 62-56 lead near the 3-minute mark of the second half but the Wildcats did not score again. A tip-in by Vasean Allette and a 3 from Brendan Wenzel made it 62-61 with 1:17 left.Coleman Hawkins missed in the paint for Kansas State, then blocked a layup at the other end. David N’Guessan rebounded, was fouled and missed the front end of the one-and-one with 24 seconds left. Reynolds then put the Horned Frogs ahead and K-State's Dug McDaniel was unable to finish a contested layup before time ran out during the battle for the rebound.Allette and Trazarien White each scored 14 points for TCU (8-5, 1-1 Big 12) and Ernest Udeh Jr. grabbed 12 rebounds.N’Guessan had 17 rebounds and scored 10 points for K-State (7-6, 1-1). McDaniel scored 12 points, Coleman Hawkins 11 and Brendan Hausen 10.TCU pushed its three-point halftime lead to six points early in the second half before Kansas State took the lead at 45-43 with 11 minutes remaining. The Wildcats held the lead for close to 11 minutes before Reynolds' game-winner.TCU improved to 8-0 at home and Kansas State's road losing streak reached 51 weeks and 11 games.TCU will play at No. 14 Houston for the first time since 2011 on Monday.

🏀 TCU scores the final 7-points to edge Kansas State

ST. JOSEPH, Mo – Fort Hays State saw its five-game win streak snapped on Saturday (Jan. 4) in a 47-44 loss at Missouri Western. The Tigers turned in another strong defensive performance, but could not find enough offense in the second half to keep their streak alive. FHSU moved to 9-4 overall, 2-2 in the MIAA, while MWSU moved to 10-4 overall, also 2-2 in the MIAA.

Fort Hays State took its first lead of the game on a Kaleb Hammeke&nbsp;basket at the 12:39 mark of the first half. It was part of a 7-0 run by the Tigers on the way to a 12-8 lead just over halfway through the opening half. A 6-0 burst just a few moments later put the Tigers up 18-10, their largest lead of the game. FHSU went on to lead 22-18 at the break.

With his first assist of the game in the first half, Hammeke became the fourth player in FHSU men's basketball history to reach 500 career assists. He also became the first player in program history to have at least 1,700 points and 500 assists after being part of the club of at least 1,600 points and 400 assists with Raymond Lee and Mark Wilson.

After FHSU made the first basket of the second half, Missouri Western crawled back in front 26-24 with an 8-0 run over a span of about three minutes. Muhamed Kante&nbsp;briefly put the Tigers back on top 27-26 with a baseline jumper at the 12:49 mark, but it would be the final lead of the game for FHSU. The Tigers were able to tie the game twice more, the latest at the 9:37 mark, but a 6-0 burst by the Griffons a bit later pushed their advantage to eight, their largest of the game.

The Tigers made a late 11-4 run at the Griffons to get the lead back down to one twice. They had a chance to win the game in the waning seconds, but a stepback jumper by Hammeke just inside the 3-point arc was long and the Griffons secured the rebound and closed the game with a pair of free throws with under a second to play.

Free throws wound up being the difference in the game. Missouri Western made 12 compared to seven for FHSU. The Griffons shot 16 attempts and missed four, while the Tigers shot 10 attempts and missed three. FHSU made one more field goal than MWSU and had a high shooting percentage from the field, while both teams went 3-of-15 beyond the 3-point line.

Fort Hays State held Missouri Western to just 28.1 percent shooting overall, but mustered just a 34 percent effort of its own. FHSU turned the ball over 11 times compared to nine for MWSU.

Just a couple of days after holding Northwest Missouri State to its fewest points in a game since the 1959-60 season, the Tigers were held to their fewest points since the 2011-12 season when they scored just 40 in a loss at Central Missouri. However, the Tigers still managed to hold the Griffons to less than 50 points for the fourth-straight games between the teams and fifth time in the last six meetings.

Hammeke led the Tigers in scoring with 16 points and tied for the team lead in rebounds with Shaun Riley, each securing six. Hammeke led in assists as well with four. He was the only Tiger to reach double figures in scoring.

Zane Nelson was the only Griffons player to reach double figures in scoring with 12 points. Zion Swader and Ethan Killgore each had nine, combining for seven of MWSU's 12 made free throws in the game.

Fort Hays State will be at home for its next four games in a row, starting with contests against Nebraska-Kearney (Tue. Jan. 7) and Emporia State (Thur. Jan. 9) next week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736056121816.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsST. JOSEPH, Mo – Fort Hays State saw its five-game win streak snapped on Saturday (Jan. 4) in a 47-44 loss at Missouri Western. The Tigers turned in another strong defensive performance, but could not find enough offense in the second half to keep their streak alive. FHSU moved to 9-4 overall, 2-2 in the MIAA, while MWSU moved to 10-4 overall, also 2-2 in the MIAA.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2001141255&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/01-04-24-fhsu-mbkb-coach-interview-v-miss-w-state" title="Mark Johnson Postgame at Missouri Western State (Jan. 4, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Mark Johnson Postgame at Missouri Western State (Jan. 4, 2025)</a></div></div>Fort Hays State took its first lead of the game on a Kaleb Hammeke&nbsp;basket at the 12:39 mark of the first half. It was part of a 7-0 run by the Tigers on the way to a 12-8 lead just over halfway through the opening half. A 6-0 burst just a few moments later put the Tigers up 18-10, their largest lead of the game. FHSU went on to lead 22-18 at the break.With his first assist of the game in the first half, Hammeke became the fourth player in FHSU men's basketball history to reach 500 career assists. He also became the first player in program history to have at least 1,700 points and 500 assists after being part of the club of at least 1,600 points and 400 assists with Raymond Lee and Mark Wilson.After FHSU made the first basket of the second half, Missouri Western crawled back in front 26-24 with an 8-0 run over a span of about three minutes. Muhamed Kante&nbsp;briefly put the Tigers back on top 27-26 with a baseline jumper at the 12:49 mark, but it would be the final lead of the game for FHSU. The Tigers were able to tie the game twice more, the latest at the 9:37 mark, but a 6-0 burst by the Griffons a bit later pushed their advantage to eight, their largest of the game.The Tigers made a late 11-4 run at the Griffons to get the lead back down to one twice. They had a chance to win the game in the waning seconds, but a stepback jumper by Hammeke just inside the 3-point arc was long and the Griffons secured the rebound and closed the game with a pair of free throws with under a second to play.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2001141251&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/1-4-25-fhsu-mbkb-hilights-v-miss-w-state" title="Fort Hays State MBB Highlights at Missouri Western State (Jan. 4, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State MBB Highlights at Missouri Western State (Jan. 4, 2025)</a></div></div>Free throws wound up being the difference in the game. Missouri Western made 12 compared to seven for FHSU. The Griffons shot 16 attempts and missed four, while the Tigers shot 10 attempts and missed three. FHSU made one more field goal than MWSU and had a high shooting percentage from the field, while both teams went 3-of-15 beyond the 3-point line.Fort Hays State held Missouri Western to just 28.1 percent shooting overall, but mustered just a 34 percent effort of its own. FHSU turned the ball over 11 times compared to nine for MWSU.Just a couple of days after holding Northwest Missouri State to its fewest points in a game since the 1959-60 season, the Tigers were held to their fewest points since the 2011-12 season when they scored just 40 in a loss at Central Missouri. However, the Tigers still managed to hold the Griffons to less than 50 points for the fourth-straight games between the teams and fifth time in the last six meetings.Hammeke led the Tigers in scoring with 16 points and tied for the team lead in rebounds with Shaun Riley, each securing six. Hammeke led in assists as well with four. He was the only Tiger to reach double figures in scoring.Zane Nelson was the only Griffons player to reach double figures in scoring with 12 points. Zion Swader and Ethan Killgore each had nine, combining for seven of MWSU's 12 made free throws in the game.UP NEXTFort Hays State will be at home for its next four games in a row, starting with contests against Nebraska-Kearney (Tue. Jan. 7) and Emporia State (Thur. Jan. 9) next week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Tiger men come up short at Missouri Western

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The third-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2024-25 season on Saturday, losing to Missouri Western by one, 67-66. The Tigers (12-1, 3-1 MIAA) led by as many as 11 in the first half, but a basket with less than four seconds remaining handed the Griffons (9-3, 4-0 MIAA) the lead for good.

The Griffons have now won five of the last seven games against the Tigers, with all five of those MWSU wins being decided by three or fewer points.

Despite the early 11 a.m. start, both teams showed up to the gym ready to play. The Tigers hit 62.8 percent from the floor over the first 10 minutes (10-of-16), while the Griffons poured in 50 percent from the floor in the first quarter (8-of-16). Five of Missouri Western's first six field goals were 3-pointers, allowing the Griffons to lead by as many as four early on. Katie DeGarmo&nbsp;got things going early and often, scoring eight points in the first four minutes. Those eight points allowed the graduate student to climb into second place on the FHSU all-time scoring list, passing Kate Lehman (1,917 points). DeGarmo finished the game with a season-high 23 points, giving her 1,933 points in 136 career games in a Tiger uniform.

The lead changed hands four times in the opening frame, with FHSU leading 23-22 after 10 minutes of action. The Tigers kept things rolling on offense in the second quarter while turning up the pressure on defense, opening the frame on a 13-3 run to build an 11-point lead, 36-25. The Griffons hit just 1-of-7 from the floor and turned the ball over six times over the first seven minutes of the frame before clicking back into gear heading into halftime. The home team closed the half on a 10-0 run, closing within 36-35 at the break.

DeGarmo was perfect from the floor in the first half, knocking down all eight of her attempts to total 17 points alongside seven rebounds, one assist and one steal.

An Ellie Stearns&nbsp;3-pointer put the Tigers up four early in the second half before Missouri Western used a 10-2 run to take a four-point lead of its own, 47-43. The Griffons later led by as many as five three separate times, tied for FHSU's largest deficit of the season.

The Griffons went up by five for the final time with 7:18 remaining in the contest before Brooke Loewe&nbsp;responded with her second 3-pointer of the game. Olivia Hollenbeck&nbsp;then knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the score with six minutes on the clock. Missouri Western answered with a triple two possessions later, but Kate Dilsaver&nbsp;punched right back with a long-range make of her own to tie the score again at 62.Hollenbeck later tied the score again at 64 with a basket before handing FHSU a two-point lead with three minutes to go with two more free throws. The Tiger defense did all it could down the stretch to seal the win, forcing five-straight misses and a pair of turnovers over a four-minute stretch to cling to the lead.

The offense, however, struggled down the stretch, with FHSU combining to miss its final three shots from the floor and its final four free-throw attempts while turning the ball over twice in the final two minutes.

After two Tiger free-throw attempts rattled out with 15 seconds to go, the Griffons were able to regain the lead for the final time on a layup with less than four seconds to go.

DeGarmo finished the game with 10 rebounds alongside her game-high 23 points, giving her a second double-double of the season. Loewe contributed 10 points and a career-high 12 assists, giving the Tigers a pair of double-doubles in the same game for the first time since December 2023.Hollenbeck scored 10 points and added four rebounds, while Talexa Weeter&nbsp;scored 11 points and added one block off the bench.

Fort Hays State created 19 Griffon turnovers while the Tigers turned the ball over 16 times themselves. Both teams collected 36 rebounds. Missouri Western finished the game with 12 made 3-pointers.

The Tigers will return home to play their next four games inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The homestand begins Tuesday when FHSU hosts Nebraska-Kearney beginning at 5:30 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736055744322.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The third-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2024-25 season on Saturday, losing to Missouri Western by one, 67-66. The Tigers (12-1, 3-1 MIAA) led by as many as 11 in the first half, but a basket with less than four seconds remaining handed the Griffons (9-3, 4-0 MIAA) the lead for good.The Griffons have now won five of the last seven games against the Tigers, with all five of those MWSU wins being decided by three or fewer points.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2001072147&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/01-04-24-fhsu-wbkb-coach-interview-v-miss-w-state" title="Talia Kahrs Postgame at Missouri Western State (Jan. 4, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Talia Kahrs Postgame at Missouri Western State (Jan. 4, 2025)</a></div></div>Despite the early 11 a.m. start, both teams showed up to the gym ready to play. The Tigers hit 62.8 percent from the floor over the first 10 minutes (10-of-16), while the Griffons poured in 50 percent from the floor in the first quarter (8-of-16). Five of Missouri Western's first six field goals were 3-pointers, allowing the Griffons to lead by as many as four early on. Katie DeGarmo&nbsp;got things going early and often, scoring eight points in the first four minutes. Those eight points allowed the graduate student to climb into second place on the FHSU all-time scoring list, passing Kate Lehman (1,917 points). DeGarmo finished the game with a season-high 23 points, giving her 1,933 points in 136 career games in a Tiger uniform.The lead changed hands four times in the opening frame, with FHSU leading 23-22 after 10 minutes of action. The Tigers kept things rolling on offense in the second quarter while turning up the pressure on defense, opening the frame on a 13-3 run to build an 11-point lead, 36-25. The Griffons hit just 1-of-7 from the floor and turned the ball over six times over the first seven minutes of the frame before clicking back into gear heading into halftime. The home team closed the half on a 10-0 run, closing within 36-35 at the break.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2001072103&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/1-4-25-fhsu-wbkb-hilights-v-miss-w-state" title="#3 Fort Hays State WBB Highlights at Missouri Western State (Jan. 4, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">#3 Fort Hays State WBB Highlights at Missouri Western State (Jan. 4, 2025)</a></div></div>DeGarmo was perfect from the floor in the first half, knocking down all eight of her attempts to total 17 points alongside seven rebounds, one assist and one steal.An Ellie Stearns&nbsp;3-pointer put the Tigers up four early in the second half before Missouri Western used a 10-2 run to take a four-point lead of its own, 47-43. The Griffons later led by as many as five three separate times, tied for FHSU's largest deficit of the season.The Griffons went up by five for the final time with 7:18 remaining in the contest before Brooke Loewe&nbsp;responded with her second 3-pointer of the game. Olivia Hollenbeck&nbsp;then knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the score with six minutes on the clock. Missouri Western answered with a triple two possessions later, but Kate Dilsaver&nbsp;punched right back with a long-range make of her own to tie the score again at 62.Hollenbeck later tied the score again at 64 with a basket before handing FHSU a two-point lead with three minutes to go with two more free throws. The Tiger defense did all it could down the stretch to seal the win, forcing five-straight misses and a pair of turnovers over a four-minute stretch to cling to the lead.The offense, however, struggled down the stretch, with FHSU combining to miss its final three shots from the floor and its final four free-throw attempts while turning the ball over twice in the final two minutes.After two Tiger free-throw attempts rattled out with 15 seconds to go, the Griffons were able to regain the lead for the final time on a layup with less than four seconds to go.DeGarmo finished the game with 10 rebounds alongside her game-high 23 points, giving her a second double-double of the season. Loewe contributed 10 points and a career-high 12 assists, giving the Tigers a pair of double-doubles in the same game for the first time since December 2023.Hollenbeck scored 10 points and added four rebounds, while Talexa Weeter&nbsp;scored 11 points and added one block off the bench.Fort Hays State created 19 Griffon turnovers while the Tigers turned the ball over 16 times themselves. Both teams collected 36 rebounds. Missouri Western finished the game with 12 made 3-pointers.UP NEXTThe Tigers will return home to play their next four games inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The homestand begins Tuesday when FHSU hosts Nebraska-Kearney beginning at 5:30 p.m.

🏀 Griffons clip No. 3 Tiger women

Fort Hays State (9-3, 2-1 MIAA) at Missouri Western (9-4, 1-2 MIAA) Saturday, January 4&nbsp;• 1 p.m. St. Joseph, Mo.&nbsp;• MWSU Fieldhouse

Radio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

Fort Hays State continues its two-game road swing on Saturday at Missouri Western. Tipoff has been moved up 2 1/2 hours to 1 p.m. due to winter weather forecasted this weekend. The Tigers enter on a five-game win streak with a record of 9-3 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA, while the Griffons are 9-4 overall and 1-2 in the MIAA.

Fort Hays State ended its eight-game winless drought at Northwest Missouri State on Thursday night in dominating fashion defensively. The Tigers posted a 58-39 win over the Bearcats, their largest win ever in Maryville and first at Bearcat Arena since 2013. Northwest Missouri was held inside of 40 points in a game for the first time since the 1959-60 season. FHSU lowered its season scoring defense average to 60.8 per game, which leads the MIAA and ranks sixth nationally. FHSU is now 6-0 this season when holding teams inside of 60 points.

Missouri Western dropped its second-straight game on Thursday night. Nebraska-Kearney escaped MWSU Fieldhouse with 75-69 win, pushing the Griffons a game under .500 in conference play. Missouri Western started the season 8-1, but has lost three of its last four contests, all at home. Missouri Western joined Fort Hays State in the receiving votes section of the latest NABC Top 25 Poll released back on Tuesday.

Fort Hays State owns a three-game win streak over Missouri Western going back to the 2022-23 season. The Tigers swept the regular season series between the teams last year by scores of 73-49 in Hays and 55-40 in St. Joseph. FHSU has won two of the last three meetings with MWSU in St. Joseph and five of the last six overall between the schools.

The Tigers are currently on their longest win streak since the 2022-23 season, when they had a six-game win streak. The Tigers also had a seven-game streak earlier that season. The Tigers lead the MIAA and rank third nationally in 3-point field goal percentage at 41.8 percent. The Tigers also lead the MIAA and rank fifth nationally in fewest turnovers per game at 9.3. The Tigers are holding teams to 39.1 percent shooting overall, which ranks 13th&nbsp;nationally.

Kaleb Hammeke is on the verge of a couple more milestones heading into Saturday's contest. He is only one assist from 500 for his career, which would make him the only player in program history with at least 1,700 points and 500 assists. He is only 27 points shy of the all-time scoring record at Fort Hays State of 1,766 points, held by Alonzo Goldston. Hammeke averages 15.0 points and 4.8 assists per game this season.

Kyle Grill&nbsp;ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game, while Shaun Riley is third at 11.5 per game. Grill leads the team in 3-point field goals made with 22, while Riley leads the team in rebounding at 6.7 per game.

Zane Nelson leads three Missouri Western players who average double figures in scoring at 16.2 points per game. Zion Swader averages 11.3 and Julius Dixon averages 11.1.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735938472999.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFort Hays State (9-3, 2-1 MIAA) at Missouri Western (9-4, 1-2 MIAA) Saturday, January 4&nbsp;• 1 p.m. St. Joseph, Mo.&nbsp;• MWSU FieldhouseRadio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>Fort Hays State continues its two-game road swing on Saturday at Missouri Western. Tipoff has been moved up 2 1/2 hours to 1 p.m. due to winter weather forecasted this weekend. The Tigers enter on a five-game win streak with a record of 9-3 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA, while the Griffons are 9-4 overall and 1-2 in the MIAA.Fort Hays State ended its eight-game winless drought at Northwest Missouri State on Thursday night in dominating fashion defensively. The Tigers posted a 58-39 win over the Bearcats, their largest win ever in Maryville and first at Bearcat Arena since 2013. Northwest Missouri was held inside of 40 points in a game for the first time since the 1959-60 season. FHSU lowered its season scoring defense average to 60.8 per game, which leads the MIAA and ranks sixth nationally. FHSU is now 6-0 this season when holding teams inside of 60 points.Missouri Western dropped its second-straight game on Thursday night. Nebraska-Kearney escaped MWSU Fieldhouse with 75-69 win, pushing the Griffons a game under .500 in conference play. Missouri Western started the season 8-1, but has lost three of its last four contests, all at home. Missouri Western joined Fort Hays State in the receiving votes section of the latest NABC Top 25 Poll released back on Tuesday.Fort Hays State owns a three-game win streak over Missouri Western going back to the 2022-23 season. The Tigers swept the regular season series between the teams last year by scores of 73-49 in Hays and 55-40 in St. Joseph. FHSU has won two of the last three meetings with MWSU in St. Joseph and five of the last six overall between the schools.The Tigers are currently on their longest win streak since the 2022-23 season, when they had a six-game win streak. The Tigers also had a seven-game streak earlier that season. The Tigers lead the MIAA and rank third nationally in 3-point field goal percentage at 41.8 percent. The Tigers also lead the MIAA and rank fifth nationally in fewest turnovers per game at 9.3. The Tigers are holding teams to 39.1 percent shooting overall, which ranks 13th&nbsp;nationally.Kaleb Hammeke is on the verge of a couple more milestones heading into Saturday's contest. He is only one assist from 500 for his career, which would make him the only player in program history with at least 1,700 points and 500 assists. He is only 27 points shy of the all-time scoring record at Fort Hays State of 1,766 points, held by Alonzo Goldston. Hammeke averages 15.0 points and 4.8 assists per game this season.Kyle Grill&nbsp;ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game, while Shaun Riley is third at 11.5 per game. Grill leads the team in 3-point field goals made with 22, while Riley leads the team in rebounding at 6.7 per game.Zane Nelson leads three Missouri Western players who average double figures in scoring at 16.2 points per game. Zion Swader averages 11.3 and Julius Dixon averages 11.1.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀🎧 LISTEN: Tigers continue road swing at Missouri Western State

#3/#4 Fort Hays State (12-0, 3-0 MIAA) at Missouri Western (8-3, 3-0 MIAA) Saturday, January 4, 2025 • 11 a.m. St. Joseph, Mo. • MWSU Fieldhouse

Radio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a>| Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The third-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will look to continue its undefeated season Saturday (Jan. 4) when the Tigers take on Missouri Western beginning at 11 a.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo. Opening tipoff has been moved up 2 1/2 hours due to the&nbsp;impending winter weather.

The matchup will feature two of the last three teams that are undefeated in MIAA play, with the Tigers entering the contest 12-0 overall and 3-0 in MIAA play and the Griffons heading into the weekend 8-3 on the year and 3-0 in conference action. 14th-ranked Pittsburg State (11-2, 3-0 MIAA) is the only other MIAA women's basketball team yet to lose a conference game this season.

Fort Hays State is hoping to avenge a pair of losses from last year when the Griffons completed the season sweep of FHSU thanks to a pair of come-from-behind wins.

Katie DeGarmo&nbsp;nearly averages a double-double when playing Missouri Western, with the graduate student averaging 17.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 10 games against the Griffons. She's scored 20-plus in each of the last four meetings and has five double-doubles and seven games with 10 or more points against MWSU.

DeGarmo heads into the contest with 1,910 points in her storied career, seven behind tying Tiger Sports Hall-of-Famer Kate Lehman for second all-time on the FHSU scoring list (1,917 points).

After totaling 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting to help the Tigers defeat Northwest Missouri State on Thursday, Olivia Hollenbeck&nbsp;climbed to third across all Division II with a shooting percentage of 67.2 percent. She ranks fourth in the conference with a team-best 17.3 points per game while she leads the conference with 2.83 steals per game and sits fourth in the league with 1.67 blocks per night.

Hollenbeck has scored in double figures eight times in 10 tries against the Griffons, averaging 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists when playing the Griffons.

Kate Dilsaver&nbsp;opened the new year with a sharp-shooting effort in Maryville, with the senior knocking down a career-best four 3-pointers on seven attempts in Thursday's win. She has now scored in double figures five times this season, more than any other season in her FHSU tenure.

Dilsaver has scored in double figures three times in eight career matchups with Missouri Western.

Brooke Loewe&nbsp;dished out six more assists in the win over the Bearcats, giving her 74 dimes for the year, fourth-most in all Division II. She leads the conference and ranks ninth in DII with an average of 6.2 assists per game. That pace would set the all-time program record for season assist average, breaking All-American Jaden Hobb's mark of 6.0 assists per game in the 2020-21 season.

The Tigers are 34-27 all-time against the Griffons, while Missouri Western leads 17-11 in games played in St. Joseph, Mo. The Griffons hold a two-game winning streak after the Tigers had won nine of 12 meetings from 2018 to 2023. Fort Hays State is 0-2 against MWSU during the Talia Kahrs&nbsp;era, including an 0-1 mark on the road. The road team has won six of the last eight on-campus meetings. Fort Hays State is 17-12 against the Griffons in MIAA regular season conference contests.

The defending MIAA champions are 8-3 on the year and 3-0 in conference play. After starting the year 2-3, the Griffons have rattled off six-straight wins and have not lost since November 20. First-year head coach Ashton Feldhaus' team lives and dies by the 3-pointer, with the Griffons currently ranking fourth in all Division II in both long-range makes (9.9 per game) and attempts (29.5 per game). Alyssa Bonilla leads the team and ranks sixth in the MIAA with an average of 16.5 points per game, while she is second in the league behind Loewe with an average of 4.9 assists per contest. Matilda Soderlund hits more than three shots from behind the arc per contest, tops in the MIAA and eighth-most in DII.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
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 </figure>FHSU Athletics#3/#4 Fort Hays State (12-0, 3-0 MIAA) at Missouri Western (8-3, 3-0 MIAA) Saturday, January 4, 2025 • 11 a.m. St. Joseph, Mo. • MWSU FieldhouseRadio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a>| Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The third-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will look to continue its undefeated season Saturday (Jan. 4) when the Tigers take on Missouri Western beginning at 11 a.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo. Opening tipoff has been moved up 2 1/2 hours due to the&nbsp;impending winter weather.The matchup will feature two of the last three teams that are undefeated in MIAA play, with the Tigers entering the contest 12-0 overall and 3-0 in MIAA play and the Griffons heading into the weekend 8-3 on the year and 3-0 in conference action. 14th-ranked Pittsburg State (11-2, 3-0 MIAA) is the only other MIAA women's basketball team yet to lose a conference game this season.Fort Hays State is hoping to avenge a pair of losses from last year when the Griffons completed the season sweep of FHSU thanks to a pair of come-from-behind wins.Katie DeGarmo&nbsp;nearly averages a double-double when playing Missouri Western, with the graduate student averaging 17.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 10 games against the Griffons. She's scored 20-plus in each of the last four meetings and has five double-doubles and seven games with 10 or more points against MWSU.DeGarmo heads into the contest with 1,910 points in her storied career, seven behind tying Tiger Sports Hall-of-Famer Kate Lehman for second all-time on the FHSU scoring list (1,917 points).After totaling 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting to help the Tigers defeat Northwest Missouri State on Thursday, Olivia Hollenbeck&nbsp;climbed to third across all Division II with a shooting percentage of 67.2 percent. She ranks fourth in the conference with a team-best 17.3 points per game while she leads the conference with 2.83 steals per game and sits fourth in the league with 1.67 blocks per night.Hollenbeck has scored in double figures eight times in 10 tries against the Griffons, averaging 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists when playing the Griffons.Kate Dilsaver&nbsp;opened the new year with a sharp-shooting effort in Maryville, with the senior knocking down a career-best four 3-pointers on seven attempts in Thursday's win. She has now scored in double figures five times this season, more than any other season in her FHSU tenure.Dilsaver has scored in double figures three times in eight career matchups with Missouri Western.Brooke Loewe&nbsp;dished out six more assists in the win over the Bearcats, giving her 74 dimes for the year, fourth-most in all Division II. She leads the conference and ranks ninth in DII with an average of 6.2 assists per game. That pace would set the all-time program record for season assist average, breaking All-American Jaden Hobb's mark of 6.0 assists per game in the 2020-21 season.The Tigers are 34-27 all-time against the Griffons, while Missouri Western leads 17-11 in games played in St. Joseph, Mo. The Griffons hold a two-game winning streak after the Tigers had won nine of 12 meetings from 2018 to 2023. Fort Hays State is 0-2 against MWSU during the Talia Kahrs&nbsp;era, including an 0-1 mark on the road. The road team has won six of the last eight on-campus meetings. Fort Hays State is 17-12 against the Griffons in MIAA regular season conference contests.The defending MIAA champions are 8-3 on the year and 3-0 in conference play. After starting the year 2-3, the Griffons have rattled off six-straight wins and have not lost since November 20. First-year head coach Ashton Feldhaus' team lives and dies by the 3-pointer, with the Griffons currently ranking fourth in all Division II in both long-range makes (9.9 per game) and attempts (29.5 per game). Alyssa Bonilla leads the team and ranks sixth in the MIAA with an average of 16.5 points per game, while she is second in the league behind Loewe with an average of 4.9 assists per contest. Matilda Soderlund hits more than three shots from behind the arc per contest, tops in the MIAA and eighth-most in DII.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀🎧 LISTEN: #3 FHSU women battle Griffons Saturday morning

Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus previews Sunday's regular season finale in Denver.

The Holthus Hotline airs Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. on 96.9, KFIX.

Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus previews Sunday's regular season finale in Denver.The Holthus Hotline airs Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. on 96.9, KFIX.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2000334295%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-o211rkEJmja&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/holthus-hotline-jan-4-2025/s-o211rkEJmja" title="Holthus Hotline (Jan. 4, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Holthus Hotline (Jan. 4, 2025)</a></div></div>

🎧 Holthus Hotline with Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus

Saturday, January 4
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB at Missouri Western State, 1:05pm

Sunday, January 5
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
UCF, 1:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, 2pm

Saturday, January 4
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB at Missouri Western State, 1:05pmSunday, January 5
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
UCF, 1:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, 2pm

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Fort Hays State defensive lineman Myles Menges&nbsp;was named one of 14 finalists from NCAA Division II for the annual Cliff Harris Award. The award is given to the top small college defensive player in the country at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. Starting last year, winners from all three levels are selected for the award instead of only one award given to just one individual combining all three levels.

Menges, the 2024 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, is the fifth Tiger defensive player under head coach Chris Brown's tenure to be named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award. Menges joins Brock Long (2015), Sie Doe, Jr. (2016), Nathan Shepherd (2017), and Jose Delgado (2018) as Fort Hays State players to be named finalists for this annual award, which began in 2013. Doe, Shepherd, Delgado, and Menges all earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors in the year they were selected as finalists for the Cliff Harris Award. Shepherd was the closest to winning the award, tying as the top vote getter from NCAA Division II in 2017.

Menges was the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. He finished the season with 27 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. His most impressive stat was 11 pass breakups by batting down several passes at the line of scrimmage. He led all defensive linemen in NCAA Division II by a landslide, the only one to reach double figures, and it ranked 16th nationally all behind defensive backs, which dominate the category. Menges finished his FHSU career with 182 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 2 interceptions, 23 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

The winner of the Cliff Harris Award for NCAA Division II is selected by the Cliff Harris Award committee, which includes Pro Football Hall of Famer, Cliff Harris. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025.

Below are the finalists for the award from NCAA Division II. Benari Black - Sr, LB, Johnson C. Smith (N.C.) Peyton Buckley - Sr, DB, Augustana (S.D.) Micah Cretsinger - Sr, DB, Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) Jamair Diaz - So, DL, Glenville State (W.Va.) Larry Elder - Gr, DB, Valdosta State (Ga.) Marquise Fleming - Gr, DL, Wingate (N.C.) Ricky Freymond - Jr, DL, Western Colorado Cam Hollobaugh - Jr, LB, Walsh (Ohio) Josiah Johnson - Sr, S, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) Dion Kuinlan - Gr, DB, Assumption (Mass.) Myles Menges&nbsp;- Gr, DL, Fort Hays State (Kan.) Clay Schulte - Sr, LB, University of Indianapolis Tanner Volk - Sr- S, Central Washington Lashon Young - Fr, DB, Miles (Ala.)

<figure>
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 </figure>FHSU AthleticsLITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Fort Hays State defensive lineman Myles Menges&nbsp;was named one of 14 finalists from NCAA Division II for the annual Cliff Harris Award. The award is given to the top small college defensive player in the country at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. Starting last year, winners from all three levels are selected for the award instead of only one award given to just one individual combining all three levels.Menges, the 2024 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, is the fifth Tiger defensive player under head coach Chris Brown's tenure to be named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award. Menges joins Brock Long (2015), Sie Doe, Jr. (2016), Nathan Shepherd (2017), and Jose Delgado (2018) as Fort Hays State players to be named finalists for this annual award, which began in 2013. Doe, Shepherd, Delgado, and Menges all earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors in the year they were selected as finalists for the Cliff Harris Award. Shepherd was the closest to winning the award, tying as the top vote getter from NCAA Division II in 2017.Menges was the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. He finished the season with 27 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. His most impressive stat was 11 pass breakups by batting down several passes at the line of scrimmage. He led all defensive linemen in NCAA Division II by a landslide, the only one to reach double figures, and it ranked 16th nationally all behind defensive backs, which dominate the category. Menges finished his FHSU career with 182 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 2 interceptions, 23 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.The winner of the Cliff Harris Award for NCAA Division II is selected by the Cliff Harris Award committee, which includes Pro Football Hall of Famer, Cliff Harris. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025.Below are the finalists for the award from NCAA Division II. Benari Black - Sr, LB, Johnson C. Smith (N.C.) Peyton Buckley - Sr, DB, Augustana (S.D.) Micah Cretsinger - Sr, DB, Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) Jamair Diaz - So, DL, Glenville State (W.Va.) Larry Elder - Gr, DB, Valdosta State (Ga.) Marquise Fleming - Gr, DL, Wingate (N.C.) Ricky Freymond - Jr, DL, Western Colorado Cam Hollobaugh - Jr, LB, Walsh (Ohio) Josiah Johnson - Sr, S, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) Dion Kuinlan - Gr, DB, Assumption (Mass.) Myles Menges&nbsp;- Gr, DL, Fort Hays State (Kan.) Clay Schulte - Sr, LB, University of Indianapolis Tanner Volk - Sr- S, Central Washington Lashon Young - Fr, DB, Miles (Ala.)About the Cliff Harris Award:&nbsp;The Cliff Harris Award is an annual recognition program dedicated to celebrating exceptional defensive players in small college football. Named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Cliff Harris, the award acknowledges players who exhibit excellence on the field. The winners from each division are honored in the spring with an all expenses paid trip and VIP tour of 'The Star' in Frisco, TX alongside Cliff. There, they get a one of a kind, behind the scenes look at the most valuable and recognizable sports franchise in the world.The Trophy: One of the most unique awards in all of college football, the Cliff Harris Award trophy stands almost two-feet tall and weighs 35 pounds. A rare two-figurine sports action bronze sculpture, the Cliff Harris Award represents an actual tackle by NFL Hall of Fame and Dallas Cowboy great Cliff Harris, against Harold Jackson of the Los Angeles Rams. What makes this trophy truly exceptional is its intricate design, showcasing extreme angles and attachment points that secure the two bronze players to a three-tier walnut wood base, setting it apart from any other trophy in all levels of college football. Crafted from fourteen distinct bronze pieces, its assembly process ranks among the most intricate and complex in sports awards. Every winner from DII, DIII and NAIA will receive their own Cliff Harris Award trophy. Sculpted by Raymond Gibby and designed by David Bazzel, this trophy embodies excellence in both craftsmanship and football achievement.Past Winners 2023: NCAA Division II - Tanner Volk, DB, Central Washington / NCAA Division III - Owen Grover, LB, Wartburg College / NAIA - Tristin Waugh, DL, Grand View University (First year of a winner for all 3 levels) 2022: Caleb Murphy, DL, Ferris State (NCAA Division II) 2021: Sam Roberts, DL, Northwest Missouri State (NCAA Division II) 2019: Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne (NCAA Division II) 2018: Corey Ballentine, DB, Washburn (NCAA Division II) 2017: Michael Joseph, DB, University of Dubuque (NCAA Division III) 2016: Connor Harris, LB, Lindenwood (NCAA Division II) 2015: Marqui Christian, S, Midwestern State (NCAA Division II) 2014: Darius Allen, DL, CSU-Pueblo (NCAA Division II) 2013: Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood (NCAA Division II)Cliff Harris Award Social Media Facebook: Facebook.com/CliffHarrisAward Twitter (X): @CliffHarrisAwdInstagram: @TheCliffHarrisAward