Central Oklahoma (7-2, 3-1 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (8-0, 3-0 MIAA)
Friday, December 17 - 7:30 pm
Hays, Kan. - Gross Memorial Coliseum
Game Sponsor: Riverside Chiropractic
National Anthem: Carter Muehleisen
Promotion: FHSU Faculty/Staff Appreciation
Halftime Performance: Tiger Debs
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM|)
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Fort Hays State Men's Basketball will face another strong challenge at home on Friday night (Dec. 17) when Central Oklahoma comes to Gross Memorial Coliseum. The undefeated Tigers (8-0, 3-0 MIAA) look to slow the MIAA's top scoring attack as the Bronchos enter at 7-2 overall, 3-1 in the MIAA. FHSU moved into the D2SIDA Top 25 this week, holding a national ranking of No. 23 in the poll, while it received the most votes of any team outside the NABC Top 25.
This game pits the nation's best scoring defense in Fort Hays State against the MIAA's best scoring offense in Central Oklahoma. The Tigers are allowing only 53.3 points per game this season and have held all but one of their opponents under 60 points this season. The Tigers are also among the top 10 nationally in field goal percentage defense (2nd) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (8th). They are allowing teams to shoot just 36.1 percent overall and 26.5 percent beyond the arc. In home games so far this season, FHSU is allowing just 48.7 points per game.
Central Oklahoma on the other hand averages 84.9 points per game and has scored at least 75 points in all but one game this season, that being an 86-65 loss at Midwestern State (Texas). UCO scored 75 points in its other loss, beat on a last-second tip in against Missouri Southern. The Bronchos have done the majority of their high scoring at home, where they are 6-0 this season averaging 90.8 points per game inside Hamilton Field House, but hold just a 1-2 away record averaging just 73 points per game away from home.
The Tigers have done the conference's best defense vs. the conference's best offense matchup once already this season when Emporia State led the MIAA in scoring offense. The Hornets entered averaging 84.6 points and finished with 76 in a game the Tigers won by two in overtime. Both teams scored 69 points in regulation. It was the only game so far this season the Tigers won by less than 10 points.
Fort Hays State is in the D2SIDA Top 25 for the first time since the 2015-16 season. That year, the Tigers held a No. 24 ranking in the poll for a week before dropping out. That was the only time the Tigers were in the D2SIDA Top 25, a poll that has only been in existence since the 2014-15 season.
Jared Vitztum is averaging a double-double for the season at 14.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He has four double-doubles to his credit this season after leading Division II in double-doubles during the regular season in 2020-21. Kaleb Hammeke is averaging 14.1 points per game and a team-best 3.4 assists per game. Nyjee Wright is also averaging double figures at 11.6 points per game. Geoff Hamperian is the top scorer off the bench for the Tigers at 8.0 points per game.
Central Oklahoma has four players averaging better than 12 points per game. Camryn Givens and Isaiah Wade lead the way at 17.9 points per game each. Wade is the second-best rebounder in the MIAA behind Vitztum of FHSU, averaging 9.9 per game. Jaden Wells (13.4) and Callen Haydon (12.4) also average double figures in scoring for the Bronchos.
FHSU Athletics