By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

Last week, Fort Hays State University seniors Tim Peintner and Ryan Herrman talked on the bus on the way to Wichita Falls, Texas for the NCAA Division II tournament. Peintner asked Herrman if he was ready to take the Tiger jersey off and end his career. Herrman told Peintner no.

"Yeah, I don't want to either," Peintner said. "It's tough."

Peintner and Herrman helped lead Fort Hays to an NCAA, Division II Tournament first-round victory against University of Central Oklahoma, the first NCAA victory for the Tiger program since 2005-06, before the Tigers lost 80-73 to University of Central Missouri on Sunday afternoon. The loss ended FHSU's season at 23-7 and the career of Fort Hays' four seniors -- Peintner, Herrman, and transfer guards Willie Hassell and Orrin Greer. Peintner and Herrman, two of the most productive players in the nine-year Mark Johnson era, had a combined nine years in the Tiger program and finished with 114 and 115 career games played, respectively. This season, the two were considered the team's leaders.

"These two guys right here just have been tremendous to our program," Johnson said. "It's going to be a sad day now that's over for them. I can't imagine them not being here. Just proud of our guys."

Hassell, a transfer from NCAA Division I Canisius College, and Greer, a transfer from University of Texas-San Antonio, both were part of the Tigers' eight-man rotation.

Hassell finished third on the team in scoring at 10.4 points per game and was second with 113 assists. He led the team with 38 points at the NCAA tournament, including leading a second half comeback against Central Missourl. Greer collected 7.1 points a contest.

"Willie Hassell is a great player," Peintner said. "Willie literally kind of brought us back and that shows the type of player he is. He has got one of the best mid-range shots, and he is a tough guy and when he gets rolling, it's hard to stop him."

Herrman, an Abilene native, was the last player who was on a team that competed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. In 2005-06, he redshirted on a squad that went 27-4, the best record in the nine-year Johnson era.

The next year, Peintner, a Scott City graduate, came to FHSU. He and Herrman played on a 13-15 team, the first year Fort Hays competed in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Then, they helped Fort Hays return as a top-25 program, helping the Tigers finish with years of 19-10, 20-9 and 23-7. The last two years mark the first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 2000-2003. Peintner, who jokingly calls him and Herrman "dinosaurs" because the two are married and are the program's most experienced players, each delivered solid careers.

"That guy is tough as nails over there (looking at Herrman), he is one of the hardest-working guys I have ever played with," Peintner said after the loss to Central. "The other two seniors just as well. It's been a great experience. We are both married now and both old men and stuff like that. I am going to miss the coaching staff. They have been great. Being a better player has been nice coming out, but I think I have become a lot better man being in the program."

Peintner, who earned all-conference honors in 2008-09, finished his career with 882 points and 548 rebounds. He has the most points and rebounds of any player in the nine-year Johnson era.

'He is a tremendous player," Central Missouri head coach Kim Anderson said.

In addition, the 6-foot-6 Peintner, one of the best 3-point shooting forwards in the conference, hit 22-of-48 3-pointers this season, good for 45.8 percent. He led the Tigers in 3-point shooting percentage as a junior and senior and finished 88-of-211 from behind the arc in his four years. His 41.9 career 3-point field percentage ranks ninth all-time in Fort Hays history. Herrman completed his career with 473 points and 480 rebounds.

"It just means the world," Herrman said. "I came in my first year and got redshirted. It was tough for me coming out of high school and always playing all the time. As the years went on, Coach Johnson stuck with me. I learned so much. I feel like Coach Johnson, the whole coaching staff, Tim and those guys, they are a part of my family and I love them to death and I am so glad that I could be so successful in my five years here."