Lincoln (10-8, 10-8 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (9-9, 9-9 MIAA)
Thursday, February 18, 2021 • 7:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
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Game Sponsor - High Plains Farm Credit
Fort Hays State Men's Basketball starts a key stretch of three straight home games starting on Thursday night (Feb. 18) against Lincoln University. Both teams are in the thick of a crowded race for an MIAA Tournament spot, which will feature the top eight teams in the MIAA standings following the regular season. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Outside of nationally ranked programs Northwest Missouri State (17-1) and Washburn (14-3) already clinching berths to the MIAA Tournament, the final six spots remain up for grabs with just a week and a half remaining in the regular season. FHSU currently sits in a tie for eighth at 9-9, but sit just one game back of Lincoln (10-8) which sits in a tie for fourth.
Fort Hays State and Lincoln are meeting for the second time this season. Lincoln won the first meeting by 12 points in Jefferson City back on January 9. The Blue Tigers have won the last three games in the series, but FHSU still holds a 15-10 advantage in the all-time series. FHSU is 7-0 against Lincoln in Hays in MIAA regular season games, which dates back to the 2010-11 season. Overall, FHSU has won nine straight over Lincoln on its home floor.
The Tigers are coming off a successful road trip in Oklahoma last week, where they went 2-1. FHSU picked up wins at Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State, completing regular season sweeps against both teams.
Lincoln enters this contest on a two-game win streak. Last week, the Blue Tigers picked up a seven-point win at Newman and then posted a 26-point win over Emporia State at home. Prior to their current two-game win streak, the Blue Tigers had lost four straight.
Jared Vitztum continues to lead FHSU at 17.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He leads the MIAA in rebounds per game and he's the NCAA Division II leader in double-doubles this season with 10, two better than a pair of individuals tied for second on the list. In the 73-58 win at Northeastern State this past Saturday, Vitztum became just the eighth player in program history to record at least 1,000 points and 600 rebounds in a career, the first to do so since Corbin Kuntzsch in 2011.
Kaleb Hammeke and Quinten Rock rank seventh and eighth in the MIAA in assists per game. Hammeke averages 4.2 per and Rock averages 4.0 per game. Both average double figures in scoring, Rock at 12.9 points per game and Hammeke at 11.2. Rock has scored at least 19 points in three of the last four games, while Hammeke had a season-high seven assists in FHSU's win at Northeastern State.
Quinton Drayton and Sai Witt both average over 16 points per game for the Blue Tigers. Witt also pulls down a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game. Cameron Potts ranks second in the MIAA in assists, averaging 5.3 per game.
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