Fort Hays State (10-1, 5-1 MIAA) at
Rogers State (8-5, 2-5 MIAA)
Monday, January 3, 2022 - 6 p.m.
Claremore, Okla. - Claremore Expo Center
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
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Coming off a 59-53 win at Northeastern State on Saturday, Fort Hays State men's basketball looks for an Oklahoma road swing sweep on Monday when it faces Rogers State. Tipoff is set for 6 pm inside the Claremore Expo Center, which follows the women's contest at 4 pm. The Tigers enter at 10-1 overall, 5-1 in the MIAA, while the Hillcats are 8-5 overall, 2-5 in the MIAA.
The Tiger defense continues to present problems for the opposition, now back on top of NCAA Division II in scoring defense. FHSU allows only 55.7 points per game and had held nine of 11 opponents inside 60 this season. FHSU is the only team in the MIAA holding opponents to a shooting percentage lower than 40 percent this season, currently at 37.9 percent.
Rogers State has won two straight games coming into this contest. The Hillcats defeated Cameron University by 12 points on December 29 and then Nebraska-Kearney by 14 points on New Year's Day, both at home. The Hillcats are 5-1 on their home floor this season, the lone loss being to Missouri Southern by a score of 67-53. Devin Pullum leads the RSU scoring effort at 16.5 points per game, while Joey Saracco adds 10.3 per contest. RSU has six players averaging at least 6.8 points per game.
With a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds in the win at Northeastern State, Jared Vitztum took over the team lead in scoring this season by a slim margin, now averaging 15.6 per contest to go with his MIAA-best 10.7 rebounds per game. Kaleb Hammeke is right behind him at 15.5 points per game. Nyjee Wright also averages double figures in scoring at 10.5 per game.
Rogers State holds a 3-1 advantage in the brief series history between the schools. The Hillcats joined the MIAA in 2019-20 and swept the Tigers the first year before splitting the season series last year. FHSU won 78-71 in Hays last season before Rogers State claimed a 69-66 win in Claremore. FHSU is looking for its first-ever win in Claremore on Monday.
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