
Missouri Southern (8-6, 5-3 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (11-3, 6-3 MIAA)
Thursday, January 20 - 7:30 pm
Hays, Kan. - Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
LISTEN LIVE
Game Sponsor: High Plains Farm Credit
National Anthem: FHSU Pep Band / New Beginnings Preschool
Halftime Performances: Tiger Debs & TNT Dunk Squad
Promotions: Welcome back night for FHSU students! - FREE PIZZA for the first 200 FHSU students prior to the women's contest at 5:30 pm...FREE POPCORN for the first 200 students prior to the start of the men's game at 7:30 pm.
Fort Hays State Men's Basketball returns to action on Thursday night (Jan. 20) when they play host to Missouri Southern. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum, which follows the women's contest at 5:30 pm. FHSU enters the game at 11-3 overall, 6-3 in the MIAA, while Missouri Southern is 8-6 overall, 5-3 in the MIAA.
The Tigers are coming off a loss to No. 2 ranked Northwest Missouri State this past Wednesday. The Tigers were off for a week following the contest since their contest at Missouri Western for this past Saturday was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols within the MWSU men's program.
Despite surrendering more than 60 points for just the third time this season in the loss to Northwest Missouri last week, Fort Hays State still leads NCAA Division II in scoring defense. The Tigers are now allowing 57.4 points per game. FHSU is one of only four teams in NCAA Division II holding its opposition to less than 60 points per game on average. FHSU has held opponents under 60 in 11 contests this season.
Missouri Southern dropped their last two contests both at home, falling by 15 points to Washburn and 13 to Emporia State. The Lions scored exactly 72 points in each of their last three contests and they average 74.7 points per game for the season. Stan Scott leads the Lions in scoring at 15.9 points per game and two other teammates that have played in all 14 contests average double figures as well. RJ Smith averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game over the first four contests of the season, but has not played since.
Jared Vitztum is nearing another major milestone, now only 10 rebounds shy of 800 for his career. He can become just the sixth player in FHSU history to have 800 or more rebounds, and he can also become just the third player to have at least 1,300 points to go along with 800+ rebounds. Vitztum has seven double-doubles in 14 contests this season and leads the team at 14.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
Vitztum and Kaleb Hammeke each scored 32 points in the only meeting with Missouri Southern last year. The result of that contest was a 102-94 win for the Tigers in overtime in Joplin. The 32 points was a career-high in scoring for both, while Vitztum pulled down what turned out to be a season-high 15 rebounds in that contest. On the other side, Stan Scott of Missouri Southern also scored 32 points to lead the Lions.
FHSU Athletics