Fort Hays State (7-2, 7-2 MIAA) at
Missouri Southern (4-6, 4-6 MIAA)
Thursday, January 21 • 7:30 p.m.
Joplin, Missouri • Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
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Fort Hays State Men's Basketball begins this week's road trip at Missouri Southern on Thursday evening (Jan. 21). Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm inside the Leggett & Platt Center, which follows the women's contest at 5:30. The Tigers enter at 3-7 on the season, looking to snap a four-game losing skid, while the Lions are 5-5.
Fort Hays State has been on a rollercoaster so far this season, beginning the year with three losses, followed by three wins, and then four losses. The Tigers have rested for a week now following the postponement of their game with Missouri Western this past Saturday. Their last game was a 64-51 loss in Hays to No. 3/1 ranked Northwest Missouri State.
Fort Hays State will be looking for its first win in Joplin since the 2015-16 season, when it won 85-82. The Lions have claimed the last two meetings between the teams in Joplin. FHSU holds a 33-22 advantage in the all-time series with MSSU. MSSU is 1-2 on its home court so far this season
The Tigers remain one of the top free-throw shooting teams in the nation, ranked 11th in NCAA Division II at 81.7 percent as a team for the season. The Tigers lead the MIAA free-throw percentage. Jared Vitztum leads the Tigers at 17.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He ranks second in Division II for double-doubles with six for the season, just one back of the national lead. Quinten Rock (13.4) and Alvin Thompson (10.5) also average double figures in scoring for FHSU, while Kaleb Hammeke produces a team-best 4.7 assists per game.
Cam Martin of Missouri Southern leads the MIAA in scoring at 25.1 points per game. He ranks 5th in NCAA Division II for points per game. Winston Dessesow and Stan Scott also average double figures in scoring for MSSU. Dessesow has been out the last three games for MSSU.
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