Southern (11-6, 5-3 MIAA) moves into a three-way tie for second place with Northwest Missouri and Fort Hays in the MIAA.

The Lions started strong, scoring the game's first five points, but a 12-0 run from the Tigers (12-4, 5-3 MIAA) capped off by a three pointer from Jake Sims made the score 12-5 with 14 minutes left in the first. The lead would grow to 12 (19-7) after a layup from LaTravis Turner, but the Lions turned it around and went on a 14-5 run of their own capped off by a three from Skyler Bowlin to cut the Tiger lead to 24-21 with just over seven minutes left.

The FHSU lead again grew to 12 after another Turner layup with 3:49 left, but a layup from Octavius Hawkins with 32 seconds to go made the Tiger lead 38-31 at the half.

The Hays lead grew to 12 once again (54-42) after a three from Tyrone Evans with 12.22 left in the second half. It was 12 again (67-55), after a layup from Swan Emerick with 6:23 left, but an 18-8 run by the Lions capped by a three from TJ Britton with 34 seconds left made the Tiger lead just two (75-73). Fort Hays, however, went 7-8 at the charity stripe over the final 30 seconds to seal the win.

Hawkins led the Lions with 19 points and seven rebounds, going 6-13 from the field and 7-8 from the free-throw line. Britton was 5-7 from the field and 3-3 from long range for 13 points, while Tyler Ryerson had 13 points and seven assists off the bench.

The Lions shot 47 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free-throw line, but were out rebounded 39-30, including 15 offensive rebounds for the Tigers.

Southern will be back in action this Wednesday, January 30 as they travel to Topeka to take on the Washburn Ichabods. Tip off is slated for 7:30 in Lee Arena.