Pueblo – In the unfamiliar role of underdog, fourth-seeded Metro State upset top-seeded Fort Hays State 76-68 on Saturday in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout semifinals at the Colorado State Fair Events Center.
Metro (21-8) allowed the Tigers, ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division II, to rally from a nine-point early second-half deficit before closing the door via the clutch play of senior guards Greg Muth and Drew Williamson, who had a game-high 21 points.
Metro faces Nebraska-Kearney in the title game at noon today.
Muth countered a pair of missed free throws with a 3-pointer off an offensive rebound and pass from Williamson to restore the lead to six points with 4:08 remaining.
“They started coming back on us and were getting momentum,” Muth said. “After those missed free throws, I wanted another chance.”
Hays (26-3) responded with a 3-pointer, but Williamson answered in kind, and on the next Metro possession Muth used all his might to hoist a contested 3-pointer with the shot clock at :01 for a 62-53 lead.
Following a pair of regular-season losses to Hays, freshman guard Marquise Carrington and freshman center Jesse Wagstaff made crucial contributions Saturday against a Tigers team featuring RMAC player of the year Tyrone Shephard and RMAC defender of the year Jeremy Atwater.
Carrington hit three consecutive 3-pointers midway through the first half to help Metro gain the lead and scored on a drive to tie it at 45 after Hays’ 12-2 run closed the gap. Wagstaff provided physical defense and a scoring touch before fouling out with 12 points.
Shephard shot 3-for-11 from the field, Atwater managed one steal and Hays’ 6-foot-10 center Jeff Pruitt was limited by foul trouble to five points in 11 minutes.
METRO STATE (21-8)
Bahl 1-4 5-6 8, Williamson 5-12 8-8` 21, Coulibaly 3-4 2-4 8, Carrington 4-6 2-4 13, Muth 3-6 5-7 13, Ballard 0-1 0-0 0, H. Smith 0-0 1-2 1, D. Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Price 0-0 0-0 0, Wagstaff 5-9 2-3 12. Totals 21-43 25-34 76.
FORT HAYS STATE (26-3)
Atwater 3-4 4-10 10, Shephard 3-11 8-8 14, Pruitt 1-2 3-4 5, Pickert 0-3 0-0 0, Graham 5-9 1-2 13, Owens 1-3 0-0 3, Turner 5-8 1-2 11, Olberding 3-6 0-0 7, Gentry 1-1 0-0 3, Henson 1-6 0-0 2. Totals 23-53 17-26 68.
Halftime – Metro St. 35-28. 3-point goals – Metro St. 9-18 (Carrington 3-5, Williamson 3-7, Muth 2-3, Bahl 1-2, Ballard 0-1), Fort Hays St. 5-21 (Graham 2-4, Gentry 1-1, Owens 1-2, Olberding 1-3, Pickert 0-3, Shephard 0-4, Henson 0-4). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – Metro St. 31 (Williamson 8), Fort Hays St. 33 (Atwater 13). Assists – Metro St. 10 (Muth 4), Fort Hays St. 13 (Owens 3). Total fouls – Metro St. 22, Fort Hays St. 28. A – 753.
