[box vs. FHSU]

WICHITA, KS. ... In a battle of the unbeatens, Southwest Baptist University prevailed with a 60-57 win over Fort Hays State to improve to 8-0.  SBU is the fifth team in the history of SBU to start off 8-0.

Playing on a neutral court at Newman University, SBU was led by 7'2" senior Frans Steyn.  He turned in 14 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the year.  Freshman Colt Blair added 10 points.

A battle from the beginning, FHSU only had two leads in the game as they tried to catch SBU all night.  The Tigers hit their opening basket for a 2-0 lead and then there were two ties in the next eight minutes.  With the game tied at eight (13:58), SBU went on a 13-2 run over the next seven minutes to take an 11- point lead, 21-10.  In the run, Steyn had four of his 14 points.  FHSU brought the lead down to seven, 31-24, at the half.

The second half was just as thrilling for both teams.  FHSU battled back in the first five minutes to tie the game at 34 and then take the lead, 35-34, at the 15:23 mark.  SBU responded with a 7-0 run in which Steyn had four points.  He gave SBU back the lead, 36-35, on a layup and then hit two free throws in a minute and half of the run.  The run extended SBU's lead to six.  FHSU came within one over the next two minutes but SBU's Blair nailed a three-pointer to move the lead to four and then Steyn canned another layup to make it a six-point lead. 

With 6:09 to go, SBU had a nine-point lead.  The lead would be eaten away by the Tigers over the next six minutes.  FHSU cut SBU's lead to two, three times, in the final six minutes but could never retake the lead.  With 00:50 left to play, FHSU came within two.  They had a chance to tie the game with 00:06 left but missed a layup.  Blair hit one-of-two from the free throw line after FHSU's missed layup.  FHSU took a desperation three-pointer but it did not make it.

SBU ended the game shooting 40% from the floor as FHSU shot 38%.  The Tigers out rebounded SBU, 41-35, but SBU forced 18 turnovers. 

The Bearcats will try to move to 9-0 as they travel to the panhandle of Oklahoma to play Oklahoma Panhandle State on Tuesday, December 6, at 7 p.m.