Rogers State (2-4, 2-4 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (2-3, 2-3 MIAA)
Sunday, December 20, 2020 - 4 p.m.
Hays, Kan. - Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
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Fort Hays State Men's Basketball will close out the 2020 portion of its calendar on Sunday when it plays host to Rogers State. Tipoff is set for 4 pm, which follows the women's contest at 2 pm. The Tigers enter at 2-3 looking to even their season record, while the Hillcats are 2-4.
Rogers State is out to a slow start this year after finishing second in the MIAA last year and getting selected to the NCAA Tournament. The Hillcats finished 24-6 overall in 2019-20, their first year as members of the MIAA. Rogers State swept the 2019-20 series with Fort Hays State, winning by 10 in Claremore before claiming a six-point win in Hays. The Hillcats were nationally ranked last season when they came to the coliseum in February. Last season marked the first-ever meetings between FHSU and Rogers State.
The Tigers have won three straight games when including their exhibition win at Kansas State back on December 8. Since that victory, the Tigers picked up their first two wins in regular season play downing Newman in Wichita before their win over Northeastern State on Friday evening. FHSU started the year 0-3, but look to get back to the break-even mark before heading into the holiday break.
Jared Vitztum once again paced the Tigers in scoring on Friday night with 20 points in the win over Northeastern State. Quinten Rock was right behind with a new career high of 19. Alvin Thompson provided 15 points and Kaleb Hammeke added 10 in Fort Hays State's first home win of the season. Vitztum leads the MIAA in rebounding at 10.0 per game, while ranking fourth in scoring at 20.8 per game. He has led the team in scoring in four of the five games played this season.
Devin Pullum leads the Hillcats in scoring at 15.2 points per game. He is also the top assister on the team at 3.5 per game. Pullum is a perfect 16-of-16 at the free-throw line this season. Destin Eke and Darraja Parnell lead the Hillcats in rebounding at 5.3 and 5.2 per game respectively. The three aforementioned Hillcats are part of a group of five averaging double figures in scoring, which also including Jett Sternberger and Brewster Peacock.
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