Kearney, Neb. - Fort Hays State post players Ken Bowman and Dijon Smith each scored 20 points, and combined to grab 11 rebounds, to lead the Tigers to a 91-68 win over Nebraska-Kearney Saturday afternoon in Hays, Kan.

Fort Hays improves to 4-0 on the year while the Lopers fall to 1-2 on the young season.

In the first 12 minutes of the game, there were four ties and five lead changes. The first lead change came on a free throw by Smith at the 18:06 mark to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead. UNK grabbed its second lead two minutes later on a three pointer by true freshman Tim Billingsley (Parker, Colo.) giving the Lopers a 7-6 lead.

After the media timeout at the 9:06 mark, neither team held a lead larger than two points until 2:52 when Hays used a Smith layup to move ahead 33-30. 

Kearney got a jumper by junior Max Froehlich (Pierce) with 41 seconds left to be within one but Hays hit a three with a second left in the half by guard Dominique Jones to go into the break up 40-36.

Shooting 54.2 percent (13 of 24) in the first half, UNK saw Hays pull away midway through the second half behind strong offensive rebounding and hot shooting.

The Tigers got its first double digit lead, 55-45, by the 13 minute mark and the Lopers didn't get closer then 11 points the rest of the way. Hays also closed out the game on a 22-10 run.

A 6-9, 235 lbs. senior from Phoenix, Bowman went 7 of 9 from the field and 6 of 7 at the line to reach his point total while Smith, an Omaha Bryan grad, had 14 of his 20 points in the first half. The 6-8, 210 lbs. senior finished 8 of 11 from the floor and 4 of 4 at the line.

Hays out rebounded the Lopers 41-31, including a 19-11 margin on the offensive glass. UNK also committed 16 turnovers to the Tigers' six.

For the Lopers, freshman post Mike Dentlinger (Millard North) had a team-high 17 points with three others scoring in double digits as well, including Froehlich with 14 and juniors Mike Vandahl (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) and Chris Deans (Hemingford) with 10 a piece.

Nebraska Kearney home opener is Tuesday night versus in state rival Nebraska Omaha.